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Water Efficiency

Vast swathes of Kent are predicted to suffer water scarcity by the time children born this year turn 25, so we all have a duty to use water responsibly. This page includes some tips to help you save water around the house.

Some water companies can provide free advice and/or water saving devices. Swale residents who are supplied by  Southeast Water can request things like cistern bags,  leaky toilet detectors and water regulating shower heads.

Around the house:
  • The #leakyloochallenge. Take a small piece of tissue paper, scrunch this up and place on the back of your toilet just above the water line. If it wets and drops down quickly, you most likely have a leak, which can waste between 200 and 400 litres of water which could cost you over £200 a year!
  • The short shower- pick your favourite song and see if you can finish your shower before the song ends! A 10-minute shower will use around 170 litres of water, while a 4–5-minute shower will use only 70-90 litres. That’s a huge saving.
  • Install a cistern bag.  A single flush of the toilet can use up to 11 litres of water, and this small action can help save up to 2 litres with each flush.
  • Try to fill your garden with drought resistant and pollinator friendly plants. This will mean your space is much more resilient to heat and dryness in the summer months, and will require much less watering.
  • When you do need to water, only do so in the very early morning, or in the late evenings. This helps reduce the amount that is evaporated.
  • Install a water butt!