How to Reduce Your Water Bill in the UK

If you're in a property that uses less water than the rateable value of your home suggests, a water meter could save you money. Generally, if you have fewer people in your home than bedrooms, a meter is likely cheaper. A single person in a 3-bedroom house? A meter could halve your bill. You can request a free meter installation from your water company. In England and Wales, you have a right to have one installed (with some exceptions for shared supplies). After installation, you have a trial period — if your bill goes up, you can switch back to unmetered billing within 12 months.

If you're on a water meter and either receive certain benefits or have a medical condition requiring extra water use, the WaterSure tariff caps your bill at the average for your area. This can save hundreds per year for families with high water needs. Many water companies also offer their own social tariffs for customers on low incomes, reducing bills by up to 50%. Check your water company's website for hardship schemes — they vary by region but are significantly underused. Thousands of people who qualify don't claim.

A dripping tap can waste over 5,000 litres of water per year — enough to fill a paddling pool every week. A running toilet can waste up to 400 litres per day. If you're on a meter, that's money literally going down the drain. Check for leaks by reading your meter, not using any water for two hours, then reading it again. If it's moved, you have a leak. Most dripping taps can be fixed with a new washer (under £1 from any hardware store), and running toilets usually need a new flapper valve (around £5).

Small changes add up: take shorter showers (cutting 1 minute saves 12 litres per shower). Turn off the tap while brushing teeth (saves 6 litres per brush). Only run dishwashers and washing machines with full loads. Use a washing-up bowl instead of running the tap for washing dishes. Water the garden with a watering can instead of a hose (a hose uses 1,000 litres per hour). Collect rainwater in a water butt for the garden. These aren't dramatic changes, but across a year they reduce water consumption by thousands of litres.

Most water companies will send you free water-saving devices if you ask. These include: cistern displacement devices (saves 1-3 litres per flush by reducing toilet cistern volume), tap aerators (reduce flow without affecting pressure), shower timers (a visual reminder to keep showers short), and garden hose trigger guns (so water only flows when you squeeze). Some companies offer free home water audits where they'll install these devices and check for leaks. Contact your water company — these are genuinely free with no catch.

If you're renovating or replacing bathroom fixtures, choose water-efficient options. A dual-flush toilet uses 4-6 litres per flush vs 13 litres for old single-flush models. A water-efficient showerhead uses 6-8 litres per minute vs 12-15 for standard heads. Modern dishwashers use less water than washing by hand. These upgrades pay for themselves over time through lower water bills, especially on a meter. Look for products with the Waterwise Recommended Checkmark for verified efficiency.