Water-Saving Guide: How to Save Water at Home (UK)

How Many Litres Does Each Water-Saving Change Save?

1. Taps: Stop The Running Water

A running tap uses about 6 litres a minute, so brushing your teeth with the tap on for two minutes wastes around 12 litres. Do that twice a day and a household of four can waste tens of thousands of litres a year. The same applies to washing vegetables and rinsing dishes under a running tap.



Low-flow taps and aerators. If you want the saving without having to think about it, fit aerators (small screw-on caps that mix air into the stream) or flow restrictors to your kitchen and bathroom taps. The spray feels just as full, but the flow drops noticeably. Many suppliers give these away free, so check yours before buying.

Keeping a jug of drinking water in the fridge also means you no longer run the cold tap waiting for it to chill.

2. Showers: Flow Rate Matters More Than You Think

Showers range from about 6 litres a minute to 45 or more, depending on the type. Electric showers sit at the low end. Mixer showers on a combi or pumped system are in the middle. Power showers and oversized rainfall heads can use more water than a bath in just a few minutes. Cutting a shower by one minute typically saves 8 to 10 litres, which adds up to thousands of litres a year per person.

Low-flow shower heads and regulators

• Aerated shower heads blend air into the water so it still feels strong at lower flow.
• Flow regulators sit inside the hose or head and cap the flow, often at around 8 litres a minute.
• Combi boiler owners: do not restrict the flow too far. Below the boiler's minimum flow rate it will not fire and your shower runs cold. If that happens, swap to a less aggressive head.
• Gravity-fed or low-pressure systems: a pump or a well-chosen aerated head often works better than a restrictor.

3. Toilets: Low-Flush and Dual-Flush Specifics

Flushing the toilet is the biggest single water user in most homes, often accounting for a quarter to a third of the total. Older single-flush cisterns commonly use 9 litres or more each time, while new UK toilets are limited to a 6-litre maximum full flush. Dual-flush models go further by letting you choose between a full and a reduced flush.

Dual-flush toilets explained

• Standard dual flush: Usually 6 litres for a full flush and about 3 to 4 litres for a reduced flush.
• High-efficiency dual flush: Some models drop to around 4 litres and 2.6 litres.
• Everyday saving: If a person flushes five times a day and most flushes are short, the saving against a 9-litre cistern is easily over 20 litres per person per day.
• Retrofit option: Many older cisterns can be fitted with a dual-flush valve instead of replacing the whole toilet. It is a quick job for a plumber and worth asking about.

Cheaper ways to cut flush volume

• Cistern displacement bag: Takes up space in the cistern and saves about 1 litre per flush. Avoid the old brick trick, as bricks can crumble and block the valve.
• Adjust the float valve: If the cistern fills right to the overflow, lowering the water level slightly can save water without hurting the flush.
• Do not use the toilet as a bin: Every wipe or cotton bud flushed away is a full cistern wasted.

What about "if it's yellow, let it mellow"? It does save water, but it is not for everyone. Staining, limescale and smells build up faster, and it is not practical in a shared home. A dual-flush toilet gives you most of the savings with none of the downsides.

4. Leak Detection: Find the Water You Are Paying for But Never Use

Hidden leaks are the biggest water wasters of all. A toilet that leaks clean water from the cistern to the pan can lose up to 400 litres a day, and you often will not hear or see it. A dripping tap, a weeping valve or a slow leak on your supply pipe all add up quietly. Warning signs include a higher bill than usual that stays high, the sound of running water when nothing is on, damp patches, or a wet area of lawn.

Step-by-step: the water meter leak test

1. Turn off every tap and appliance, and make sure no cistern is refilling.
2. Note the full reading on your water meter, including any small dials or red digits.
3. Leave it for one to two hours, or overnight for the most sensitive test. Do not use any water.
4. Read the meter again. If the numbers have moved, or the small leak-indicator dial is turning, water is escaping somewhere.

If you do not have a meter, you can still check your stopcock and all taps and toilets by eye and ear, and you can ask your water supplier whether they offer a free leak check.

Toilet dye test. Toilet leaks are the most common and the easiest to confirm. Dry the inside of the pan, drop a few drops of food colouring into the cistern, and do not flush. If colour appears in the pan within about 30 minutes, the cistern is leaking, usually from a worn flush valve seal or a faulty fill valve. Many suppliers also provide free toilet leak detection strips.

Taps, pipes and outside

• A slow drip from a tap is usually a worn washer or cartridge. Our guide on how to repair a dripping tap explains the fix.
• Check under sinks, behind the washing machine and around the base of the toilet for damp or staining.
• Look for outside taps left dripping, or a constantly wet patch along your supply route. The supply pipe from the boundary stopcock to your property is usually the owner's responsibility.

Found a leak? What to do next. Turn off the water at the stopcock if it is serious. Small jobs like a washer or a fill valve can be a sensible DIY repair, but check advice on when to DIY and when to hire a plumbing professional first. For anything hidden, persistent or involving the supply pipe, our emergency plumbers can trace and repair it quickly across Northamptonshire.

More Ways to Save Water

• Full loads only: Washing machines and dishwashers use roughly the same amount of water whether full or half empty.
• Water butt: A single butt can collect around 5,000 litres a year, and a hosepipe can use as much as 1,000 litres an hour.
• Install a water meter: If you live alone or in a small household, you may pay less than on a rateable-value bill, and you will see exactly where the water goes.
• Ask your supplier: Many UK water companies offer free shower regulators, cistern bags and leak checks.

Need additional water-saving tips, or have a plumbing emergency? call Assett Plumbing today for help or advice on 01604 372395.

Water-Saving FAQs

How much water does the average person use per day in the UK?

Roughly 140 to 150 litres per person per day, depending on the source and the year. Toilets, showers and taps make up most of it.

Do low-flow shower heads really work?

Yes, especially aerated heads and regulators. They cut flow while keeping the spray comfortable. On a combi boiler, avoid over-restricting the flow, as the boiler needs a minimum flow rate to fire.

Is a dual-flush toilet worth it?

Usually, yes. A short flush uses around 3 litres, compared with 9 litres or more on an older single-flush cistern. A dual-flush valve can sometimes be retrofitted, so ask a plumber before replacing the whole toilet.

How do I know if my toilet is leaking?

Add a few drops of food colouring to the cistern and do not flush. If the colour shows up in the pan after about 30 minutes, you have a leak that needs fixing.

How can I tell if I leak if my bill suddenly goes up?

Do the meter test: switch everything off, note the reading, wait an hour or two and read it again. If the number has changed, water is escaping, and a plumber can find where.

Need a Hand With a Leak or a Water-Saving Upgrade?

Dual-flush conversions, tap and shower upgrades, leak tracing and repairs- with no call-out fee. Contact us for a clear written quote. Call 01604 372395.

Or see our plumbing services and plumbers in Wellingborough, Northampton and Kettering.