12 water saving tips

Summer 2025 saw hosepipe bans and low reservoir levels thanks to scorching weather, a sadly familiar phenomenon that places a strain on the water supplies that serve our homes and businesses.

The Met Office warns that the UK is likely to experience even drier summers in the future thanks to the climate crisis, so it is more important than ever for us to save water.

Here are some small changes that can have a huge impact on water usage – and reduce water bills as a bonus.

12 simple ways to save water
(and money on your water bill)

Flush bad bathroom habits

1. A running tap wastes around six litres of water per minute, so turn it off when you clean your teeth
2. Take shorter showers of 5-10 minutes and avoid baths as they use significantly more water
3. Water-saving devices, such as low-flow showerheads, reduce water use cost-effectively without sacrificing performance

Get kitchen clever

4. Make sure your washing machine and dishwasher are full when you use them
5. Keep a jug of water in the fridge instead of letting the tap run for a while for cool water
6. Just making yourself a cuppa? Only boil the water you need
7. Water left over from boiling rice or pasta can be used to water plants or, if it’s salty, kept as vegetable stock
8. Check your appliances for leaks. A dripping tap can waste up to 5,000 litres a year. That’s the equivalent of 63 baths!

Shopping – make waves with your wallet

9. The fashion industry uses vast amounts of water, so buy second-hand clothes from charity and vintage shops, such as Vinted, when you can
10. Meat is more water-intensive to produce than other foodstuffs, so consider shifting to a more plant-based diet. Also, plan meals to minimise food waste

Get your Garden water-wise

11. Did you know garden sprinklers and hosepipes can use the same amount as 33 dishwasher loads or 28 showers? Use a watering can instead and try to water during the coolest parts of the day so less water evaporates
12. Fit a water butt that collects rainwater off your roof. Water butts usually store around 200 litres of water, so you can keep your plants healthy for free

What causes UK water shortages?

Drought occurs naturally when temperatures rise and rainfall drops, but climate change and population growth have placed a massive strain on freshwater resources. The UK also has inadequate water infrastructure and around a fifth of water running through pipes is lost to leakage.

Water scarcity around the world – the bigger picture

The climate crisis is disrupting rainfall patterns across the globe and floods and droughts are increasing in frequency. Around 1.1 billion people lack access to water, which is around three times the US population,  and 2.7 billion find water scarce for at least one month of the year.

Without adequate water supplies, people can’t get enough to drink, wash, or feed crops, and are more at risk from diseases like cholera, typhoid fever, and other water-borne illnesses.

These facts make grim reading, but the problem can be overcome.

Practical Action’s work; Improving drought & flood resilience, creating water access

Practical Action provides sustainable, people-centred approaches to the challenges of waste management and water resilience in vulnerable communities.

For example, in Darfur, Sudan, we use solar-powered irrigation to fight desertification, where fertile land becomes desert, as a result of drought and deforestation. Meanwhile our work in Zimbabwe uses Pfumvudza – an efficient drought-resistant maize planting technique using small potholes that trap water during heavy rainstorms.

We also have a new project in Eastern Sudan to improve access to under-utilised water resources and tackle waterborne illnesses like cholera. Practical Action also proudly supports World Water Week.