Save water

From flushing the loo to making a brew and everything else we do each day, we're constantly using water in our homes.

The south east of England is one of the most water-stressed areas in the UK. With a growing population, more homes, and climate change, we all need to save water. This makes sure there’s enough water for everyone, and for our plants and wildlife.

Over 70 per cent of Earth is water, but only 1 per cent can be safely used for drinking water.

Saving water at home

We've got a bucket load of ideas on how to save water at home, no matter the weather.

It’s easier than you think. If we all make small changes to our daily routines, it will make a big difference to how much water you use and how much your bills cost.

Photo of a person in a shower cubicle washing their hair

Shorter showers

A four-minute shower uses less water than a bath, and saves money on your energy bills too. You can get a free four-minute timer and a water-efficient shower head HERE.

Photo of a person bent down filling up a green watering can from a water butt

Collect rainwater

Use a water butt to collect rainwater in the wetter months to use in your garden during summer. This is better for your plants, the planet, and your wallet than using a hosepipe or sprinkler.

Photo of a person bending down to load a while plate into a dishwasher

Full loads

Wait until you have a full load before using your washing machine or dishwasher. Washing at 30 degrees or using the 'eco' setting saves even more water and energy.

Photo of a child brushing their teeth in the bathroom while looking in the mirror

Turn off the taps

Turning off the tap when brushing your teeth, shaving, or washing your hands saves hundreds of litres of water every week. Order a free toothy timer for kids HERE.

Photo of a person stood at a kitchen sink filling a kettle with water

Only boil what you need

Only fill the kettle with the water you need. This might not seem like much, but it helps save water and energy.

Photo of a person's hands picking up bark chippings from the floor

Water your garden wisely

Use mulch, bark or SwellGel to keep moisture in your garden. In summer, water plants in the early morning or late evening when it's cooler, so less water evaporates.

Free help to save water at home

It's not often you get something for free, but we are on a mission to save more water for people and the environment.

Arrange a free home visit from a professional technician where we will:

Assess the fittings you have
Check for any leaks and make repairs where possible
Install water-saving fittings for free
Make recommendations to improve the efficiency in your home where possible

Arrange a visit

Why save water?

Save money

Around 18 per cent of energy used in UK homes is for heating water. About 12 per cent of a typical gas-heated home’s heating bill is for showers, baths, and hot water from the tap.

Protect water supplies

We take the water we need from rivers and chalk aquifers (underground layers of rock that hold water). It's important we take enough water for our customers, but leave enough for the environment.

Help with climate change

With hotter summers and drier winters, water is becoming more scarce. By 2050, the amount of water available could be reduced by 10 - 15 per cent, with some rivers having 50 - 80 per cent less water in the summer.

Find out how much water you use

Save water in your garden

Free water saving devices

Water and energy use

Water latest

Stay up-to-date with the latest details around water supply.

Water Latest

What we are doing

Photo of heavy machinery operating in a field, digging large holes

Finding and fixing leaks

With over six million joins in the 9,000 miles of pipes on our network, we have 52 teams repairing leaks reactively and more than 60 leakage technicians searching for and finding leaks proactively, using innovative detection technology.

Increasing our stored water capacity

Once raw water is abstracted and treated, we keep it in a service reservoir or storage tank, ready to travel to your taps. We are increasing this storage to help us keep up with the higher demand for water we experience when temperatures are higher.

Photo of a South East Water employee wearing high-vis uniform, lowering a water pipe into a channel in the ground.

Upgrading our network

We’re investing more than £433 million upgrading old water mains, installing new pipes, improving our water treatment works and maintaining our reservoirs – so when you turn on your tap, you only get the best quality water.

Trialling new innovative ways of working

We've been working with specially-trained dogs to sniff out great crested newts so we can protect them from any engineering work we're doing. The traditional method would involve installing approximately two kilometres of fence, which would be visible for months.

PROWATER Project

Changing the way that the land is managed can make it more resilient against drought or flooding. That's because what the land is used for - forestry or farming - can have positive and negative effects on how much water can infiltrate the ground, how clean a river or groundwater is and the range of wildlife living there.

Working with farmers to protect water resources

We're working with farmers and landowners to stop soil, fertiliser and pesticides washing from fields into rivers and groundwater, improving the quality of our water at the source. Farmers and landowners also benefit by losing less of these substances to waste – saving money and time.

What you are doing

Our customers are doing a fantastic job with saving water in and around their homes. We’ve pulled together a list of some of the many great tips and tricks you’re already using. Check them out!

A woman kneeling down to put towels in the washing machine.

Around the home

"We have stopped doing small laundry washes and now save up the washing for larger washes" - Deborah, Sussex

"I use water collected in my tumble dryer for watering" - Susan, Sussex

"I save water in a jug for when I want to use it" - Tracy, Berkshire

"I collect water from my dehumidifier and use it to water my house plants" - Miranda, Sussex

"I do not rinse before putting in the dishwasher" - Paula, Sussex

A woman is filling up her kettle with water from the kitchen sink.

In the kitchen

"I only fill the kettle for one cup when needed" - Linda, Sussex

"When I defrost the freezer, I put the ice in my outdoor plant pots to water them" - Kate, Hampshire

"I rinse jars and recycling in the cold water while waiting for the hot water to arrive at the tap" - Alec, Surrey

"I fill milk bottles with the run off water from my kitchen hot tap" - Susan, Sussex

"I save all the day's washing up for one bowl of water" - Lynda, Kent

A person putting a Buffaloo Cistern Bag into the top of their toilet.

In the bathroom

"I have Buffaloo bags in our toilet cisterns to reduce the flush amount" - Julia, Kent

"I put my house plants in the bath using my leftover bath water once a week to water them" - Kate, Hampshire

"I set a cooler temperature so I don't spend as much time in the shower" - Paul, Sussex

"I turn the shower off while lathering up and only turn it on again to rinse off" - Sue, Sussex

"I put buckets in the shower to collect water and use it to flush the toilet" - Kate, Sussex

A woman is adding SwellGel crystals to the soil in her plant pot.

In the garden

"I use water retaining crystals in outside tubs and baskets" - Stuart, Kent

"I turn the soil to ensure rainfall can penetrate" - Charlotte, Sussex

"I've cleared all gutters to maximise rainwater capture" - David, Sussex

"I'm planting more drought-resistant plants in my gardens so I don't need to water so often in the summer" - Miranda, Sussex

"I monitor the weather and ensure my pots are exposed when there is rainfall" - Emma, Surrey

A child using leftover water in a glass to water a house plant.

Families

"Houseplants get watered with whatever is left in the kids' water bottles at the end of the day" - Julia, Kent

"We use a shower timer to keep showers short and fun - the kids love the challenge!" - Edward, Surrey

"I am teaching my kids about saving water by turning the tap off when brushing teeth" - Lesley, Sussex

"We have a family competition to see who can shower the quickest within four minutes" - Jim, Kent

A beagle dog drinking water from a bowl.

Pets

"I save the cold water before it runs hot for the dog's water bowl" - Frank, Sussex

"I collect the water from my pet water bowls when changing it. I use this water for the bird baths and for watering plants" - Val, Sussex

"I have some troughs outside catching rain water to wash off our dogs after their walks if they get muddy" - Hollie, Sussex