With unidentified toilet leaks present in around 10% of UK households, the water company is showing customers how to spot them — and what to do if you find one.
Leaky toilets are a major cause of water waste in the home.
A typical toilet leak can use up to 400 litres of water in a single day – enough to fill a bath two or three times – and because they’re hard to spot, they often go unnoticed.
Checking for and repairing internal leaks can make a big difference to the environment and to metered household bills.
Alongside its work to drive down leaks on its own network, Bristol Water is supporting customers to find leaks at home, as around 30% of water loss in the region comes from customer pipework.
As well as tips and advice, the company offers a range of free water-saving devices to help reduce consumption and lower bills.
One simple device is a leaky loo strip. Available for free from Bristol Water, this biodegradable and water-soluble strip simply sticks to your toilet bowl, and changes colour and dissolves if a leak is identified.
You can also carry out a similar test without a strip by placing a few squares of toilet paper at back of the toilet pan under the seat rim.
It’s important to wait around an hour after the toilet was last flushed so that the pan is dry. If the paper becomes wet, it is a good indication of a leak.
Megan Williams, Water Efficiency Manager at Bristol Water, said: “Our teams are working hard to reduce leakage across our networks and it’s really important that we support our customers in doing the same.
Climate change is showing us that we all need to be mindful of the water we use all-year around, and by keeping our customers informed about household leaks they might not be aware of, we can help reduce demand, protect water supplies and deliver lasting benefits for communities and the environment across the region.”
Nicci Russell, CEO of Waterwise, which runs the Water Saving Week campaign, said: “Bristol Water’s leaky loo campaign is so important. Leaky loos are one of the biggest water wasters in the home. Last summer was the UK’s hottest on record, and last spring was the driest in England in 100 years. There is no magic new water – and there are more people needing to use it every day."
To find out more about how to save water at home and in the garden, and for information on free water-saving devices, visit www.bristolwater.co.uk/every-drip-every-drop