Top tips to save water – and why 2025 is a critical year to act

England is facing “nationally significant” water shortfalls this summer, despite July’s rainfall. 

Officials from the Environment Agency have warned that many rivers and reservoirs are well below seasonal norms – with average reservoir levels at just 67.7% full (compared to the usual 80.5%) and almost half of England’s rivers running below normal levels. Some, including the River Wye and River Ouse, are at their lowest ever recorded.

Whilst water companies are under pressure to fix leaks, each of us can help reduce demand on our fragile water supply. Even small, everyday actions can protect the environment and ease pressure on resources – from skipping the garden sprinkler to the slightly unusual (but surprisingly effective) act of deleting old emails.

Here’s our refreshed list of water-saving tips for home and garden this summer:

1. Keep the sprinklers off
Garden sprinklers can use up to 1,000 litres of water an hour – more than 12 baths. Instead, use a water butt to collect free rainwater from your downpipes (home, shed, garage, greenhouse). Slimline butts are available for smaller spaces.

2. Use a watering can instead of a hose
A watering can helps you target exactly where water is needed. If you must use a hose, add a trigger nozzle to halve water use and control the flow. Water less often but more deeply to encourage strong root growth – once every 10 days is enough for most plants.

3. Water early in the morning
Watering before the day heats up reduces evaporation, getting more moisture to the roots where plants need it most, and gives the plants time to absorb the water so they can get through the long, hot day ahead.

4. Mulch your beds
Bark chippings, straw or shredded prunings help lock in soil moisture, cutting evaporation by up to 75%. Mulching also suppresses weeds and helps protect plants from temperature swings.

5. Stop running taps
Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth, washing vegetables or scrubbing dishes. Use a bowl for washing up, starting with the cleanest items first to make the water go further. Our Universal Sink Plug is a handy addition when you’re on the move, staying away from home, or have lost your plug – helping you save water wherever you are.

6. Reuse water around the home
Save cooking water (once cooled) and fruit/veg rinse water for your plants – they’ll benefit from extra nutrients. “Grey water” from baths or showers can also be used for non-edible plants.

7. Switch to shorter showers
Showers use less water than baths – but keep them brief. Aim for four minutes or less, and remember that every extra minute saved is a win. A ShowerBoB 4-minute shower timer or AQOS Digital Shower Meter can help you track and cut your shower time, reducing both water and energy bills.

8. Fit low-flow aerators on taps and showers
Aerators mix air into the water flow, maintaining the same pressure while using less water.  Our integral tap regulators are available for basins, kitchen taps and shower heads, and are quick to fit and inexpensive. The savings are almost invisible to the user – but make a big difference over time.

9. Keep a jug of cold water in the fridge
Avoid running the tap until it turns cold – store chilled water in the fridge for instant refreshment.

10. Delete old emails (yes, really!)
Every email stored in your inbox is saved on a server in an energy-hungry data centre. These facilities need huge amounts of water for cooling. By deleting unnecessary emails, you’re helping reduce energy demand and the water used to cool servers. It’s a small act with a surprisingly wide impact. As data centres often run on electricity generated from finite resources, you’ll also be helping reduce carbon emissions – and if you pay for extra storage through email providers, you might even save money on subscription costs.

We can all do our bit to safeguard our freshwater supplies. Small, consistent changes – multiplied by millions of households – make a real difference. Share these tips with friends, neighbours and colleagues, and help build a culture of everyday water-saving.

At ShowerBoB, our mission is simple: to make saving water and energy easy. From tap aerators to shower meters, our products are designed to help you reduce usage, cut bills and protect the environment.

Let’s take the next step together towards a greener, more water-secure future.
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ShowerBoB | Consumer shop

Photo by Sandy Millar on Unsplash