How to save water at home as bills rise by up to 53%

Yahoo

01-04-2025

Households in England and Wales will see their water bills increase by an "extortionate" average of £86 over the next year alone.
Industry regulator Ofwat has allowed companies to raise average bills by 36%, or £157 in total, over the next five years, to £597 by 2030, to help finance a £104 billion upgrade for the sector.
Some firms have been allowed significantly higher increases, with Southern Water customers facing a 53% increase and Severn Trent households seeing their bills rise by 47%, before inflation.
Unlike gas and electricity suppliers, households cannot choose which company supplies their water, meaning they must either absorb the financial hit or consider ways to reduce their consumption.
Paired with a third consecutive energy bill price hike and the ongoing cost of living crisis, it can feel as though managing utilities is a monumental task.
If you are worried about the price rises and you are looking for ways to reduce your bills, here are some helpful tips to help curb your water usage.
The cost of your water utility bill depends on whether you have a meter or not. For unmetered customers, water bills are based on a calculation, taking into consideration clean and water waste charges based on the rateable value of your property. What this means is that your bill will vary depending on your home's location and size.
Those with assessed household charges will be billed based on factors such as household size and frequency of use.
On average, baths use 20 litres more water than an eight-minute shower (which uses around 62 litres) so a shower is almost always the most cost-effective way to wash. If you're set on baths, one way to combat waste and keep your water bill down is to reuse your bath water – particularly if you have multiple children to bathe. But if the idea of sitting in someone else's scummy suds doesn't fill you with joy, you're better off opting for a shower and trying to reduce the amount of time you spend in it.
According to a Which? report, dishwashers are on average four times more water efficient than washing up by hand. It is also recommended that you avoid rinsing plates before they go into the machine, as this increases the amount of water used.
If you don't have a dishwasher, try using a dish bowl or filling the sink rather than rinsing plates with the tap.
Whether you're washing the dishes in the sink or brushing your teeth, make sure you turn the tap off in between. According to Save Water, Save Money there would be enough water to fill 180 Olympic swimming pools – every day! – if every adult in England and Wales turned off the tap when brushing their teeth.
It seems obvious, but by only using what you need, you can not only reduce your water bill, you can save on your energy bill also. In 2013, the Energy Saving Trust (EST) reported that overfilling kettles led to a total waste of £68m per year.
You may also wish to invest in a smart kettle. Not only are they convenient and provide boiling water on demand, they can help you cut costs because you are boiling your kettle less frequently.
According to Thames Water, even a small trickle can waste up to 200 litres of water per day and cost you an extra £161.33 per year. Constantly flowing water, meanwhile, could waste 8,000 litres per day and cost up to £6,453.20 per year.
Of course the cost of a plumber varies, depending on the severity of the leak, when the call is made and parts needed, among other things, but it can save you a lot of money in the long run. Thames Water also has this basic guide on how to sort leaks out yourself.
Before you jump the gun, it's worth using a free calculator tool to see if you will, in fact, save money by having a water meter. The tool will factor in things like average usage, the number of inhabitants and household appliances, and bring up an estimate for how much you can save.
If you can reduce costs by installing a water meter, you can apply for one via your provider. They are free to customers in England and Wales, but there might be a waiting list to get one installed.
Should your provider not be able to fit one – sometimes accessibility or space issues can prevent them from being able to – you should ask about assessed charges bills.
Rather than sticking on lots of smaller washes, try to do bigger loads on quicker cycles. Again, this will not only reduce the amount of water and energy you are using, it will also lower your utility bills.
Yep – you read that correctly. Regardless of whether you know your ballcocks from your shut-off valves, installing a water saving device or bag to the cistern reduces the amount of water used on any given flush – in turn lowering your water bill. Most devices cost around £20.
Older appliances – such as dishwashers and washing machines – use up more water than their modern counterparts. No one likes to fork out on white goods, but by replacing your old machine, you could save hundreds in the long-term.
If you are struggling to pay your water bill, you can contact Ofwat and the Consumer Council for Water for help. You can also speak to your provider about payment schemes.
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Four practical personal finance tips for families after the spring statement (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read)
Heat pumps and six other ways to save money on energy bills (Yahoo Life UK, 6-min read)