It's Water Saving Week 2024 - here's how you can save water, both helping the environment and saving money!

Utilities costs can be difficult to manage as a student, so being mindful of how much you are using can make a huge difference to the overall cost and your monthly budget. This #WaterSavingWeek is a great opportunity to assess your water habits, find easy ways to reduce your water usage and save money.

Here are some top tips for water saving from Water Wise, which could help you make a saving:

Tips for the Kitchen

  • Using a dishwasher on it’s eco-setting can be more efficient than washing dishes by hand, if the dishwasher has been filled to capacity. If you have a dishwasher, this may mean waiting to run a wash once at the end of the day or every other day.
  • If you don’t have a dishwasher, try adding a washing up bowl or plug into your sink to catch excess water. This can reduce water wastage by 50%. 
  • Surveys show that a typical load of laundry washing is usually much less than the maximum capacity of the washing machine. Making sure you fill the washing machine properly helps make the most of each use and reduce the number of washes.
  • By keeping a large bottle or jug of tap water in the fridge, you can ensure you have chilled water all the time, without having to run the tap to cold each time you need a drink.
  • Making sure to only fill the kettle with only what is needed, will save water and help with both water and energy bills.

Tips for the Bathroom

  • Having a shorter shower with an efficient showerhead uses less water than a bath, which is usually around 80 litres. Baths and showers are accountable for the highest usage of water consumption in the home, at around 34%.
  • Swapping to an aerated showerhead can reduce the flow without compromising on pressure. This can be an easy and renter friendly way of reducing water usage every time you shower.
  • Leaking toilets are one of the most common causes for unexpected high-water usage in the UK. When a toilet is leaking, clean water dribbles or runs away from the cistern down the back of the pan, which means it often goes unnoticed. If your toilet appears to be leaking, arrange a repair or let your landlord know as soon as possible.

Incorporating all these small changes into your daily habits and routines could reduce your water usage and in turn help you save money. For tailored advice on reducing your water consumption or how to reduce your water bill, contact your water provider. For more tips on water saving and how this could help you save money check out https://www.waterwise.org.uk/

For tailored advice on manging your finances, budgeting and reducing your outgoings contact the Students’ Union UCL Advice Service for a free, confidential appointment [email protected]

Sources – WaterWise https://www.waterwise.org.uk/

Last updated 6 months ago Read time 2 mins