How to cut your water bill by making some simple changes

As the cost of living in the UK continues to rise, water bills are no exception! The average bill for 2025/6 will be 26% higher than in 2024/5, which is around £10 more a month.

However, some water companies are raising charges by substantially more than this, with customers of Southern Water facing a £224 (47%) increase over the coming year. Meanwhile, South West Water, Hafren Dyfrdwy and Bournemouth Water are hiking their prices by 32%.

But if finances are tight, as long as you are on a metered water supply in England or Wales, you might be able to offset this increased charge simply by using less water. (In Scotland, water is included in a ‘combined service charge’ based on the property’s council tax banding.)

In the bathroom, where toilets use around 25% of household water:

• Install a dual-flush toilet that will use 4-6 litres of water per flush, as opposed to older models that can use 2-3 times that amount. Of course, this will be a financial outlay if it’s your own home, but if you are a tenant, it’s worth asking your landlord whether they might be prepared to upgrade the toilet to help both you and the environment.
• Flush less often – if you can bear to!
• Ask your water company if they can supply a Cistern Displacement Device, which can reduce each flush by at least 1 litre, and may be free.
• Cut down on the number of baths you take and shower instead.
• Fit a low-flow shower head, which could save up to 90 litres of water over a 10-minute shower.
• Turn off the tap while cleaning your teeth.

In the kitchen:

• Use a dishwasher instead of hand washing – a quick cycle can use just 13 litres of water, compared to around 140 litres that you can go through washing by hand.
• Don’t pre-rinse dishes before putting in the dishwasher – there’s no need.
• Keep a washing-up basin in the sink to catch excess tap water that you can then use to water plants, etc.
• Always try to fill your washing machine to its maximum capacity, so you don’t waste water with more smaller loads.

In the garden:

• Install a water butt by the guttering that rainwater can run into, so you don’t need to fill a watering can from the tap.
• Use a trigger nozzle on your hosepipe – this can halve the amount of water you use.

Waterwise has a helpful Water Impact Calculator that estimates how much water your household currently uses and gives you an idea of how much you could save by making various changes. Try it out here.

It’s also worth contacting your water supply company, as many of them offer discounted and sometimes free water-saving devices. And if you have a leak where water is escaping, contact the water company before calling a contractor, as they may fix it for free.

What if I don’t currently have a water meter – is it definitely worth getting one?

As a general rule of thumb, if the number of people living in your home is the same or less than the number of bedrooms, it’s likely to be worth switching from a fixed charge to a meter. The CCW has a water meter calculator you can use to see the potential savings.

You can simply ask your water company to install a meter, and if you’re a tenant, it’s worth knowing that you have the right to ask for a meter if your tenancy agreement is for six months or longer, but always ask the agent or your landlord to approve this in writing. If it’s not possible to have a meter installed for any reason, the water company may be able to offer you a cheaper tariff.