Water Saving Week 2025

Why is it important to save water?

Water use makes up 6% of the UK's greenhouse gas emissions. Around 1% comes from treating and transporting water and wastewater, while the other 5% is from heating water at home (source: Scottish Water). We use water every day for drinking, washing, cooking, cleaning, and flushing. It is an essential resource and it’s easy to waste it without realising its impact.

With Scotland's rainy weather it's easy to think we don't need to save water. However, dry weather can quickly reduce our water reserves in rivers, lochs, and reservoirs, risking shortages for many communities. Climate change is making this worse, with water alert levels reached in 2023 in a few areas in Scotland for the first time.

This puts extra pressure on our water supplies, making it even more important to conserve water. So, by being mindful about saving water, you can lower your energy bills while also being kind to the planet.

Be a water saving hero

There are plenty of fast, easy and low-cost methods to save water, energy and money.

Be a laundry legend

Make every wash count. For the most efficient use of water, make sure to load your washing machine to its recommended capacity.

Be a tap guardian

A dripping tap can waste more than 5,500 litres of water every year, so make sure you turn off taps properly or replace the washer. Some signs that your tap might be leaking include water dripping when the tap is turned off, stains or damp spots around the sink area, and hissing or dripping sounds.

Be a shower saviour 

A standard bath uses about 70 litres of water and many power showers could use even more than that. If everybody in a typical household replaced an average shower with a four minute shower, it could save around £97 on energy bills every year*. Opting for a regulated shower head can also offer a more water efficient shower experience by using less water while maintaining pressure.

Be a dishwasher defender

Leaving a tap running for 10 minutes while washing dishes or fruits and vegetables can waste about 125 litres of water, which goes straight down the drain. Remember to wash your dishes in a basin or bowl instead of under a running tap, or if using a dishwasher, wait for a full load and use the eco setting to help save not only water but energy too.

Be a leak buster

A leaking toilet can waste up to 400 litres of clean drinking water daily. It's estimated that over 4% of toilets are leaking, with houses built between 2000 and 2010 more likely to have leaking toilets. Detecting a leak is easy – all you need to do is place a square of toilet paper at the back of the toilet bowl overnight. If it’s wet or torn by morning, the toilet is leaking and needs fixing.

Find more advice on how to save water at home

Water is always worth saving – it means being kind to both your pocket and the planet. We’ve teamed up with Scottish Water to help households save water. You could  be eligible for a free water-saving pack to help you reduce water waste and cut your energy bills. Read more about saving water in everyday life.

If you’d like advice on how to save water and energy, contact us today.

*Based on a four person household, assuming gas price of 6.2p/kWh, correct as of October 2024.