We can all help save water
Empowering lasting change in your daily water habits.
Water Saving Week is an annual event hosted by Waterwise(opens in a new tab), sharing the importance of saving water, not just this week but for the future. This week is set up to inspire individuals, organisations, and communities to take simple, meaningful action to think about water use, pledge to save water and protect the natural world.
This year’s theme Protect Water for Wildlife, highlights how every drop of water saved helps protect rivers, lakes, ponds, and green spaces that wildlife depends on. We're delighted to be joining this year's campaign as a headline sponsor. Looking after the rivers, streams and green spaces across our regions is a huge part of what we do. We're the first water company to publish a 25-year environmental plan, setting out our long-term ambitions to reduce environmental impact and improve resilience for future water resources.
Climate change is here and with changing weather patterns, including warmer summers and drier winters, water is becoming increasingly more vulnerable. As well as the changes in our climate, more water is being used around the home, in our gardens and in our everyday lives, putting more pressure on the environment, and the rivers and reservoirs where we take our water from.
The more water we can save, the less water we need to take from our rivers and reservoirs, which keeps the water in the natural environment and supporting the wildlife. Be a part of the change, let's create new habits and help each other use water wisely, for now and for the future.
Monday: Water is wild, act like it
We're now using around twice as much water in homes compared to 60 years ago; that’s over 5 billion litres more every day. This is the equivalent of around 62 million baths, every single day. Every drop we save at home and at work directly helps rivers run fuller, keeps wildlife alive and thriving and brings us closer to a healthy, vibrant natural world.
The Great Stour in East Kent is one of only 200 rare chalk streams in the world, and we’re determined to protect it. We’ve teamed up with local partners on a five-year plan to restore the river’s natural flow, protect its wildlife and carefully balance our water resources so nature can thrive.
Tuesday: Small changes, wild impact
Over 10 per cent of the UK’s freshwater and wetland species are under threat. Salmon, otters, insects, and plants all rely on enough water to survive. By using less water you help these ecosystems stay resilient. Every litre saved is more water left in the environment.
The Seven Sisters National Nature Reserve is the UK’s first ‘super’ National Nature Reserve to be inspired by groundwater. We’re working with local farmers and landowners to use nature-based solutions to protect vital underground water sources, which in turn helps the landscape and local wildlife thrive.
Wednesday: Stop leaks, save habitats
Every drop lost to a leak isn’t just gone from your tap; rivers shrink, ponds dry out, and wetlands struggle to hold life. Leaky loos, one of the most common culprits in UK homes, can waste 200 to 400 litres every single day, enough to fill a small swimming pool in a week.
We're also tackling leaks and spend over £63 million a year on finding and fixing leaks across our network. In the last year, we have found and fixed over 21,000 leaks on our network, and a further 6,000 customer-side leaks. We're also using innovative remote meters in places such as farms, to identify and fix leaks faster and keep more water in the environment.
Thursday: Cool water, save wildlife
Every time you turn on a hot tap, energy is needed to heat that water, and that energy often comes from water-intensive sources. Power stations use vast amounts of water for cooling, drawing from rivers and reservoirs that freshwater wildlife depends on.
Wasting hot water isn’t just about energy bills, it’s about stressing entire ecosystems. The good news it really is as simple as small changes to make a huge difference. Shorter showers, cooler washes, and only heating what you truly need can save hundreds of litres of water and energy each week.
Friday: A wilder future
Today we celebrate not just the final day of Water Saving Week, but Sir David Attenborough’s birthday and his lifelong message that every species matters, and every drop of water counts. Water should be used wisely, every day, everywhere, by everyone.
We're working with Longbridge Regenerative for a project where rare Exmoor ponies act as "nature’s landscapers" to restore 181 hectares of East Sussex chalk grassland. These ponies help the soil filter water more effectively, ensuring our underground water sources stay clean and healthy for years to come.
We can all help save water
The more water we can save, the less water we need to take from our rivers and reservoirs. We can all play a part in protecting our local environment, right from our homes.
Be a part of the change, let's create new habits and help each other use water wisely, for now and for the future.
There are lots of ways you can help by making just a few simple swaps...
About Waterwise
Waterwise are a not-for-profit, non-government organisation who are also the leading authority on water efficiency in the UK. Their main focus is to reduce water consumption, and their goal is to promote the importance of water efficiency for the environment and future generations.
You can read more about Waterwise by visiting their website:
