Water companies in the UK want to raise household water bills to help fund upgrades and reduce sewage discharges, with the proposals coming amidst public anger about the amount of sewage discharged into rivers and oceans. If the water industry regulator, Ofwat, approves their proposals, the average annual bill will go up by £84 in 2025 rising gradually each year to £156 extra by 2030. With water bills not expected to drop any time soon, the experts at SaveMoneyCutCarbon, the nation’s leading sustainability consultancy, outline the most effective ways for households to reduce their water usage, in turn saving as much money as possible through living sustainably.

According to Water Regs UK, 80% of Brits are wasting water regularly, with the National Trust citing that the average UK person uses 150 litres of water everyday. Mark Sait, CEO and founder of SaveMoneyCutCarbon, says that the increasing population combined with the climate crisis and water use will have a major impact on our planet, which could lead to the UK facing water shortages by 2050.

Additionally, struggling households are continuing to suffer the negative consequences of the cost-of-living crisis and water bills constantly increasing, making it challenging to look for ways to conserve water. SaveMoneyCutCarbon host a broad selection of affordable and water-efficient products that help save consumers hundreds annually, simultaneously lowering their carbon footprint which are outlined in their home shop and on their mobile app. Some of their top tips for low-cost water-saving hacks are listed below:

Swap your regular shower head for an Eco Smart one
There is a common misconception that water-saving showers aren’t as enjoyable because they don’t have a constant flow rate or water pressure, but it’s just that – a misconception. Hansgrohe has developed an innovative technology does both, helping you to save water without compromising on the shower experience.

The technology, called EcoSmart, has a flow rate limiter and an aerator inside. The flow rate limiter does exactly what it says on the tin, it limits the flow of water (by 50%), whilst the aerator boosts the flow with added air – so the water pressure remains the same as a conventional shower head – a great green technology for eco-conscious consumers.

Try a water-displacement bag
With more people working from home, there will likely be a rise in water use so conserving water where possible is vitally important. Research shows flushing is responsible for up to 90% of water consumption in commercial environments. Therefore, the Save-a-Flush displacement bag is a brilliantly simple way to save thousands of litres of water every year. It works by displacing water in the cistern to save you 1 litre of water each time you flush your toilet. Overall, this easy-to-fit and zero-maintenance device can save you an average of 4,800 litres a year.

Fit tap aerators in your home
An eco tap aerator only takes a few minutes to fit but it will start reducing your bills immediately. They are small attachments that either fit onto the end of your tap or are inserted into the existing sprout. They mix air into the water stream to restrict the amount of water passing through the tap – reducing the flow of water by as much as 50%. Minimising water flow also reduces the amount of energy required to heat the water – saving you more money each month.

Install a water butt
Usually, rainwater falls onto your roof and collects in the guttering which then flows through the downpipes into the drain. With a water butt, the rainwater falls from the roof into the guttering in the same way, but rather than flowing through the downpipes and down the drain, a diverter is inserted to collect it all in the butt. Once it has reached maximum capacity, the rest of the water will simply divert to the drain. Water butts fit in any size garden, as long as you have access to a downpipe.

Installing a water butt to water your garden with natural rainwater or free of chemicals. The planet could save billions of litres of water if more people invested in a water butt.