Bills

How to Save Money on Your Water Bill in the UK: Practical Tips

SYM

Water is one of those bills most people pay without ever questioning it, yet the average water and sewerage bill in England and Wales is £448 per year (2025/26). If you're not on a water meter, you're paying based on your property's rateable value from 1990 — which often has no relation to your actual water usage. Switching to a meter is free, and for smaller households it typically saves £100–£300 per year. Combined with simple usage reduction, your water bill can be one of the easiest to cut.

Should You Switch to a Water Meter?

If the number of people in your household is equal to or fewer than the number of bedrooms, you'll almost certainly save with a meter. Single people in properties with 2+ bedrooms save the most. Water companies are required to install a meter for free if you request one, and you get a risk-free trial: if your bills go up, you can switch back to unmetered charges within 24 months. Use your water company's online calculator to estimate metered vs unmetered costs before deciding. For the average single person, switching saves around £200–£300 per year.
  • •Free to request — water company must install within 3 months
  • •24-month trial period: switch back if it costs more
  • •Usually saves money if people ≤ bedrooms
  • •Single person: saves £200–£300/year on average
  • •Use your water company's online calculator to estimate savings
  • •Apply directly through your water company's website
What if I can't have a water meter installed?+

If it's physically impossible to install a meter (some old buildings), you may qualify for an assessed charge — calculated based on the average metered bill for your household size, which is usually cheaper than rateable value charges.

Reducing Water Usage at Home

The average UK person uses 142 litres of water per day. Small changes add up to big savings on a metered bill. A 4-minute shower uses about 32 litres; an 8-minute shower uses 64 litres. Cutting shower time by just 2 minutes saves around 10,000 litres per person per year. Fitting a free water-saving shower head (available from most water companies) can halve flow rates without noticeably reducing pressure. Fixing a dripping tap saves up to 5,500 litres per year. Running a full dishwasher uses less water than hand-washing the same dishes.
  • •Reduce shower time by 2 minutes: saves 10,000 litres/year
  • •Free water-saving shower heads from your water company
  • •Fix dripping taps: saves 5,500 litres/year
  • •Full dishwasher vs hand washing: dishwasher wins
  • •Only run washing machines with full loads
  • •Water gardens with collected rainwater (free water butt from some companies)
Where can I get free water-saving devices?+

Most UK water companies offer free water-saving kits including shower heads, tap inserts, toilet flush savers, and garden water butts. Check your water company's website under 'save water' or 'free kit'. Save Water Save Money is a centralised site for all UK water companies.

Toilet and Bathroom Savings

Toilets account for about 30% of household water use. A standard single-flush toilet uses 9–13 litres per flush. Fitting a dual-flush valve or a Hippo Bag (a displacement device that reduces water per flush) saves 1–3 litres per flush — that's thousands of litres per year. If your toilet constantly runs or has a slow leak, fix it immediately: a running toilet can waste 200+ litres per day. Don't use the toilet as a bin (flushing tissues, cotton wool) — each unnecessary flush costs money on a meter.
  • •Toilets: 30% of household water usage
  • •Dual flush valve or Hippo Bag: saves 1–3 litres per flush
  • •Fix running toilets immediately: wastes 200+ litres/day
  • •Don't flush tissues or cotton wool (bin them instead)
  • •Turn taps off while brushing teeth: saves 12 litres per minute
  • •Fill a basin for shaving instead of running the tap

Track and Reduce Your Water Costs

If you're on a meter, take regular readings (monthly) and track your usage in SYM alongside other bills. This helps you spot leaks early — if your usage spikes unexpectedly, you may have a leak. Most water companies offer online accounts showing your daily usage if you have a smart water meter. Set a target to reduce your daily usage from the UK average of 142 litres to under 110 litres per person — this alone can save £50–£100 per year on a metered bill. Check if you're eligible for the WaterSure scheme (capped bills for metered customers with medical conditions or large families).
  • •Take monthly meter readings and track in SYM
  • •Spot leaks early: unexpected usage spikes
  • •Target: under 110 litres per person per day
  • •WaterSure scheme: capped bills for eligible metered customers
  • •Smart water meters: check daily usage online
  • •Track water costs alongside all bills in SYM for full picture
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