3
Are you waterwise in and around your home?
Tick the boxes below
Savings in your home
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
Yes No
Do you always take a shower rather than a bath?
Do you have a water saving device fitted to your toilet cistern?
Have you checked the water level in your toilet cistern/s recently?
Do you always use your washing machine or dishwasher with a full load?
Have you replaced your washing machine or dishwasher in the last
five years?
Do you use a glass when you clean your teeth?
Do you make a habit of not rinsing vegetables, etc under a running tap?
Leaks around your home
n
n
n
Are all your taps and overflows drip free?
Do you know that your underground service pipe (through your garden
to your house) is not leaking?
If you have a meter, do you know how to use it to check for leaks?
In the garden
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
Do you only use a watering can to water your garden?
Do you choose not to use a sprinkler?
If you have a hose, do you always use a trigger operated spray gun?
Do you always use a bucket to wash your car?
Do you use a water butt to collect rainwater for the garden?
Do you use a composter for garden and vegetable waste?
Is your garden planned to reduce watering requirements?
If you answer ‘yes’ to many of these questions, you’re on the right track. If your answers are
mostly ‘no’, then look inside this leaflet for our water saving tips.
Top tips
for saving water in the
home and in the garden
Printed on 100% recycled paper
Effective August 2009
Peninsula House, Rydon Lane, Exeter EX2 7HR
Registered in England No. 2366665
southwestwater.co.uk
90539 8/09
southwestwater.co.uk
With
handy
checklist
(see
back page)
In the kitchen
Use a bowl of water to wash vegetables or
clean dishes. Never leave taps running.
Combination boiler? Run your hot tap SLOWLY
to minimise the cold water that runs to waste
before the hot comes through.
Dishwasher and washing machine. New
dishwashers use as little as 15 litres per wash
cycle compared to 50 litres for
older models.
New washing machines use
as little as 45 litres per cycle
whereas older models
can use up to 100 litres.
Only use your machines
when you have a full load.
In the garden
Watering plants and washing the car - fit
a trigger gun to the end of your hose. Save
water by using a bucket or a watering can.
Using a water butt – collect free rainwater to
use in the garden and for washing the car.
Composting – keep a composter for your
garden and vegetable waste. Mulching
reduces the amount of water plants
require.
For advice about water butts and
composters call 0800 378937.
southwestwater.co.uk
In the bathroom
Bathing or showering – an average
bath uses 100 litres of water. Normal
showers use an average of less than
half that amount. Wait until you are
ready before turning on the shower.
Flushing the toilet – older toilets can
use nine litres or more per flush, new
toilets use just six litres, dual flush even
less. Call 0800 378 937 for a free water
saving device to fit in your cistern.
Running the tap – you can save water
by putting a plug in the basin when
washing or by using a glass of water
when cleaning your teeth.
FACT
If you have a
power shower,
make it a quick one!
Five minutes can use
as much water
as a bath.
FACT
Keep an eye on
the water level in
your cistern – make
sure it is set to the
mark and never
over-flowing.
Water leaks
Leaking taps and overflows – often, a new washer is all
that is required to mend a leaky tap. Dripping overflows
usually mean that the ball valve on toilets or roof tanks
needs checking. Astonishingly, a dripping tap or
overflow can waste as much as 85 litres of water a day!
Contact a competent plumber to seek advice.
Other leaks – you can get leaks on the pipes that
bring water into your home. If you have a meter, you
can check that it stops turning when no water is being
used – otherwise keep an eye out for wet patches on
the ground.
If you have a leak on your private underground
service pipe you are responsible for repairing it.
If you do so quickly, you may get help from South
West Water with the cost of repair and a reduced bill.
Call 0800 169 1144 for more details.
southwestwater.co.uk