Tap into the trickle down effect

Tap into the trickle down effect

The water industry is desperate to get the public to introduce water saving measures, and if you have installed a water meter in your home, there's a financial incentive to do your bit.

With this in mind Money approached Lucy Stone from the Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales for her tips on how best to save water. Plus we've added a few of our own.

For free ...

Assuming you are taking showers instead of baths and have stopped brushing your teeth with the tap running, there are still a number of measures to take that cost nothing.

Fewer than 20% of households have a water hippo in their toilet cistern. This inflatable device (supplied free by your water company) sits inside the cistern and saves a litre per flush. Some older toilets can probably take two.

Regular showerers are already on the right lines, but don't forget to turn off the water while you're lathering up. The soap is more effective, and it will save around 10 litres per douche.

Assuming there are a few people in the household, a dishwasher will use less water than washing a big load by hand. Only run it when full - the same goes for the washing machine. However, lone caterers are going to have to shun.....continued below

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Big water drinkers should fill a jug with water and put it in the fridge instead of running the tap until cold. This could save 10 litres a day alone.

Mulching the flower and vegetable beds not only keeps down the weeds but also leads to reduced evaporation, and less watering. A good dousing less often is better than a daily sprinkle. If you are allowed to use a hosepipe, use a trigger nozzle to target water at the bits that need it.

For very little ...

Lucy says the first thing to do is to insulate hot water pipes. This will result in less water running down the drain as you wait for hot water to arrive. It will also lead to lower energy bills.

Those with modern pipework should consider installing low-flow, aerating shower head and taps, which allow less water out of the pipe. These start at around £10.

Next up, homeowners should install a grey water diverter. Grey water is used bath or shower water, or water discharged from a washing machine. A diverter fits on the discharge pipe, sending the water outside to be stored for use in the garden. Lucy says grey water cannot be stored for any length of time because it quickly starts to smell. However, it's perfectly good for watering plants, once cool. Diverters are available from watertwo.co.uk for £27. On a similar line fit a water butt to collect rainwater off your roof. Smaller (150 litre models) start at around £25.

Lastly, and at the more extreme end, Lucy says those who need compost and have the space should wee on to a bale of straw. No flushing required and after several weeks, it breaks down onto fabulous compost.

For £100-plus ...