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How to save money on your water bill

Lucinda Beeman
Written By:
Posted:
24/09/2014
Updated:
24/09/2014

As autumn takes hold your gas and electricity bills may tick up out of necessity, but you can still save on another utility: Water.

With a little bit of care and investment you could save hundreds every year on you water bill. We’ve rounded up the best tips and tricks to keep your water bills low whatever the weather.

Switch payment methods

There are two ways to pay your water bill, according to the Money Advice Service. Either you pay a set price based on the size of your house, called relatable billing, or you are billed for your usage as tracked by a water meter.

Using a water meter can often be cheaper, but not always – using a water calculator will help you determine whether you stand to gain by making the switch. Learn more here.

Ditch the baths

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If a family of four replaces one bath per week with a shower – preferably five minutes in length – they’ll see their annual gas bill drop £15 and the yearly water bill go down by £25, according to the Energy Saving Trust.

Thames Water goes further, recommending showers be capped at four minutes, during which time the average shower uses 40 litres of water.

Turn off the tap

Whether you’re brushing your teeth, doing the washing up or rinsing off vegetables, leave your tap on as little as possible. A running tap uses six litres of water per minute, according to Thames Water, and Yorkshire Water estimates that using a bowl to wash dishes alone will save you £30 per year.

Don’t overfill the kettle

Boiling just as much water as you need will save you both water and energy. You could save £7 per year by employing this simple strategy, according to Yorkshire Water. 

Use appliances sparingly

Waiting until your washing machine is full will save you £15 per year, according to Yorkshire Water. Also wait until your dishwasher is full before running a cycle.

Change your showerhead

A family of four could save £65 on their gas bill and £95 on their water bill by switching to a water-efficient showerhead, according to the Energy Saving Trust. That’s a total of £160.

Make the water you use go further

The biggest savings can often come from being thrifty. If you’re a keen gardener, invest in a water butt to collect rainwater which can then be used to water your plants and lawn. Even a leftover glass of water can go to good use nourishing a houseplant.