Simple ways to save water during the drought

With the area around Birmingham still in drought and reservoirs across England well below normal levels, households are being encouraged to use water carefully. Saving water also cuts energy bills, because heating water is one of the biggest uses of energy in the home.

In the bathroom

• Take shorter showers. Cutting a shower by a minute or two can save a surprising amount of water over a year.
• Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or shaving.
• Fix leaking toilets. A toilet that constantly trickles into the pan can waste hundreds of litres a day.
• Use a water-saving device in older toilet cisterns. Water companies often provide these free.

In the kitchen

• Only run the dishwasher and washing machine when they are full.
• Keep a jug of water in the fridge instead of running the tap until it is cold.
• Wash fruit and vegetables in a bowl rather than under a running tap, and reuse the water on plants.

In the garden

• Use a watering can instead of a hose or sprinkler.
• Water plants early in the morning or in the evening, when less evaporates.
• Install a water butt to collect rainwater, especially before the wetter months.
• Let the lawn go brown in dry spells. It usually recovers quickly when rain returns.

Check for leaks

If you have a water meter, take a reading, avoid using any water for a couple of hours, then check again. If the reading has changed, you may have a leak. Leaks on the pipe outside your property can be reported to your water company.

Where Birmingham's water comes from

Most of Birmingham's water comes from the Elan Valley reservoirs in mid-Wales, and is carried to the city by an aqueduct that has used gravity alone to move water since 1904. The city's supply is managed by Severn Trent.

Help with bills

Customers who are struggling to pay their water bill can ask their water company about social tariffs and payment support schemes.