Water is a part of our everyday lives, but do you know how much water you really use? It’s easy to take it for granted when we turn on the tap, hop in the shower, or boil a kettle. Every drop adds up, and it’s so important to protect this precious resource so that more water stays in the local environment! Let’s break down some everyday activities and see where our water goes.
How much water do you use?
Here’s a look at how much water some common tasks use:
- Showering – A 10-minute shower can use up to 150 litres of water! That’s the same as filling 263 pint glasses.
- Flushing the toilet – Every flush uses on average around 4-6 litres of water. That’s more than a large bottle of fizzy drink, each time you go to the toilet. Top tip: use the small dual flush button if you have one, and save up to 20 litres.
- Washing dishes by hand – A constant running tap while washing your dishes can waste 9 litres of water, per minute.
- Using a dishwasher – A full dishwasher uses about 10-15 litres per load, which is much less than washing by hand!
- Laundry – A washing machine cycle can use 50 litres or more, depending on the setting. It all adds up quickly, and most of us use hundreds of litres of water every single day. But don’t worry, small changes can make a big difference!
Take control of your water use
Reducing waste isn’t about going without. It’s about using water wisely! Here are a few simple ways to cut back:
- Shorten your showers – Cutting just two minutes from your shower can save up to 30 litres of water.
- Turn off the tap – When brushing your teeth or washing dishes, turning off the tap can save approximately 20 litres of water each time..
- Use a bowl for washing vegetables or your dishes – Instead of running water, use a bowl. You can even reuse it to water your plants! Saving you up to 24 litres daily.
- Fix leaks – Save 400 litres every day by fixing a leaky loo. Fixing leaks can save water and lower your bill. We’ll even fix these for free for you through our Leak Visit service.
- Use water-efficient appliances – A water-saving showerhead or a full dishwasher on eco mode can cut your usage saving up to 20 litres every day.
Discover your water footprint
Want to understand how much water you really use? Take our MyWaterFootprint Quiz to find out! It’s a quick and easy way to learn where you can make small changes that save water – and once you’ve got your results, you can explore a few practical challenges to help reduce your use over time.
Plus, sign up for Save Our Streams to get personalised water-saving tips and help protect local rivers. The less water we all waste, the more water stays in the local environment.