How to save water: 11 ways and devices for saving water and money as experts say homes could save £300 a year

• Water inefficiency could cost UK households over £300 annually, according to new forecasts
• 88% of adults admit to wasting water
• Common habits including leaving taps running while brushing teeth and taking unnecessarily long showers
• Water regulator Ofwat is set to announce proposed bill increases averaging 49% by 2030, with some households facing hikes exceeding 70%
• By using water more efficiently, households could offset these bill increases
• Despite concerns about rising water bills, many people rarely think about their water usage
• Water companies aim to reduce daily usage to 127 litres per person by 2030, though usage is predicted to rise

Water inefficiency could be costing UK households over £300 annually, according to new economic forecasts.

A survey of 3,000 adults revealed that 88% admit to wasting water. Among them, 34% still leave the tap running while brushing their teeth, and 38% take longer showers than necessary.

Additionally, 23% fill the entire kettle when making just one cup of tea, and 35% rinse plates before placing them in the dishwasher.

On Thursday (11 July), water regulator Ofwat will announce its response to proposed bill increases from water companies for the next five years. These increases could average 49% by 2030 after inflation.

For some customers, the hike could exceed 70%, leading to even greater financial losses from water waste.

But modelling by economists at Cebr on behalf of Kingfisher - owner of B&Q and Screwfix - suggests that by using water more efficiently, metered households may be able to completely offset the proposed increases in bills to 2030. Here’s how...

How can I save money on my water bills?

Moving from a traditional flushing toilet to a dual flush could save £109 per year. Switching to a low-flow shower head could save £94 per year and shaving just three minutes off a shower could free up £61 annually - with energy bill savings on top.

Simply turning the tap off while brushing your teeth could return £37 back to your wallet and fixing a leaking toilet (which affects an estimated 5% of homes) could save £236 annually.

Thierry Garnier, Kingfisher CEO, said: “Avoiding water waste isn’t just the right thing to do from an environmental point of view, it’s also a way to save increasingly significant sums of money.

“By making simple changes in the home and being more conscious about how we all use water, it’s possible to offset the impact of coming bill rises and safeguard this essential resource for the future.”