80% of Britons wasting water each day

UK water bills increased by 7.5% at the start of April, spurring many on to think sustainably, but the priority must be stopping pouring money down the drain.

The largest price hike in 20 years of water tariffs, it’s the latest stage in an inflationary pattern that has seen the cost of utilities in Britain increase exponentially since spring 2022. For domestic account holders, the average annual charge will now hit £448, up £31 on the previous year, while business users are braced for a significantly steeper rise. 

Increasing energy bills have already led to experts claiming that once-in-a-generation behavioural changes have taken place across society. Simply put, more people are trying to engage in sustainable and energy cutting practices in a bid to reduce their overheads, in turn producing a positive climate impact. Similar steps are now expected when it comes to water use, although according SaveMoneyCutCarbon, the priority should be on limiting waste to begin with. 

Figures from Water Regs UK suggest that 80% of Britons are regularly guilty of pouring money down the drain by wasting water. The National Trust reports that each of us uses 150litres of the stuff every 24 hours, which is unsustainable in the long run, with parts of England already expected to face water shortages by 2040 unless a significant step change takes place. While this must involve greater investment on the part of suppliers and Government, responsibility also falls on individuals to bring consumption – not least wastage – down. 

A number of suggestions have been tables by Mark Sait, CEO and Founder of SaveMoneyCutCarbon. These include replacing shower heads with Eco Smart alternatives (reducing consumption by 50%), using water-displacement bags in toilets (saving 1litre for every flush), fitting aerators to taps (bringing flow down by 50%), and installing a water butt to collect rainwater for use in the garden. 

Image: CDC