Every drip, every drop

Every drip we stop and every drop you save helps tackle climate change, protect our rivers, reduce bills and keep your water flowing

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Every drop of water is precious

It’s easy to take water for granted, but this precious resource is increasingly under threat. That's why we're asking everyone to use water carefully. And we promise to do our bit too. We're fixing leaks and investing in a network fit for the future.

Together we can make a big difference.

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What are we doing to save water?

Climate change and an ever-growing population put more pressure on our region's water supplies.
By replacing old pipes and fixing leaks we'll ensure there's enough water for everyone.

Fixing leaks and investing in our network

We find and fix a staggering 10,000 individual leaks in our water network every year. We’re proud to say that Bristol Water has had the lowest level of leakage in the water sector. We also have the 5th best leakage reduction in the UK since 2020, according to our regulator Ofwat’s 2023 figures (see Ofwat's leak performance report here).

We've reduced our leakage by 9.3% since 2020 and we’re on target to meet our goal of a 22% reduction by 2025. We are the only company to have already met the shared commitment by all the water companies to reduce leakage by 30% by 2030.

We’re the only company to already meet the industry’s 2030 commitment for lower leakage levels (see Water UK’s A Leakage Routemap to 2050 report here). We’re continuing to invest in leak busting teams to upgrade our network, find leaks and get them fixed quickly.

Helping you stop leaks at home

We own most of the pipework that transports our water supplies, but some of the pipework is inside your property boundary and therefore you’re responsible for fixing these leaks.We can help with our Leakstop scheme for leaks on underground supply pipes.

It means you’ll benefit from a free leak detection service and advice on your next steps, plus up to £100 towards the repair of your pipe. Find out how we can help you with a leak here.

Listening for leaks: meet our leak spotters

If you spot someone in a high-vis jacket, wielding a large stick and listening to a drain, don’t be alarmed; it's (hopefully) a member of our specially trained leakage team listening for leaks.
Our leak listeners use the latest in leak detection equipment to track down leaks and report them to our engineers to get them fixed.

To the untrained ear, it might be difficult to pick up, but our leakage experts have no problems in detecting the hiss of a leaky pipe. If you spot a leak in our network, help us by reporting it here.

Managing water pressure

We’re always keeping an eye on water pressure because it helps us to save water and keep the cost of bills down for our customers. Lower pressure means less water use, which saves you money and put less strain on the environment.

Monitoring pressure ensures that everyone has a constant supply and keeps the pressure in the pipes at a suitable level that won’t lead to bursts and leaks.

Find out more about how we manage water pressure and what to do if you noticed a change.

Free water saving devices

Claim your free water saving devices at Save Water Save Money. There are lots of great items to help you save water around the home, and the team at Save Water Save Money are always updating the items they supply.

Get FREE water saving devices

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How can you save water?

Saving water isn't as hard as you might think. Little things, like swapping a bath for a shower or getting a water butt, make a big difference. We've got some top tips and changes you can make to take care of every drop of water.

1. Get water smart

It’s easy to take water for granted, just turn on the tap and out it comes. But this precious resource is increasingly under threat from climate change and growing populations. Every litre we take from lakes and rivers has an impact on the environment and it takes a lot of energy, CO2 and chemicals to clean and pump water to your home.

2. Switch to a water meter

This is one of the biggest things you can do to help us save water, and it’s also one of the easiest. With a meter you’ll not only find that you naturally use less water, it will also help us find and fix leaks. Want to hear the best part? We’ll install a water meter at your home for free. Find out how to get a meter here.

3. Look out for leaks

Our customers are our eyes and ears when it comes to spotting leaks. Detecting and repairing leaks is a top priority for us and we do everything we can to prevent them. If you spot a leak, please let us know so that our teams can get to work finding and fixing it as quickly as possible. Report a leak

Our top water saving tips

We've put together a list of changes you can make to save water.

They're broken down into 3 levels, something easy everyone can do, something that takes a bit more work, and a tip if you're dedicated to saving every drop.

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The shower

Easy win

Knock a few minutes off your shower time. The average shower uses 10 litres of water a minute, so by halving your shower time from 10 minutes to 5 minutes, you'll save around 50 litres a day!  

A bit more work

The soap and rinse technique. Turn the shower on and get wet, then turn it off whilst you lather up with soap. Finally, hop back in and turn on the shower to rinse off. It can take a bit of getting used to, but you’ll soon be trying to set personal bests for how quickly you can shower.   

 Water saving hero

Skip a day. If you’re planning a duvet day, then going without a shower will help you to save buckets of water. Just pick a day where you don’t need to be red carpet ready and relax, safe in the knowledge that you've done your bit to save water.

The bath

Easy win

Less is more. Ok, less is less, but if you can shave an inch or two off the depth of your bath you can save plenty of water and we promise you won't notice the difference.

A bit more work

Switch for a shower. Sometimes nothing beats a soak in the tub, but if you’re a regular bather and you switch half of your baths for a 5-minute shower, you’ll see those water bills tumbling.

Water saving hero

If you have treated yourself to a relaxing bath, don’t touch that plug! If your kids are small enough to fit in, or maybe your pets need a pamper, re-use the water - sharing's caring.

If sharing just isn’t for you, you can still make a bath go further by grabbing your watering can and using the leftover water to keep your garden looking lush!

The loo

Easy win

If you’ve got a dual flush loo, make sure you use it! Use the small flush for number 1s, and the larger flush for number 2s!  

A bit more work

Check your loo isn’t leaky. Push flush cisterns are notorious for developing leaks – is there water trickling down the back of the bowl? If so, you may need to get it fixed. Read our tips for spotting a leaky loo. 

Water saving hero

Ok, we know this won't be for everyone, but if you’re truly an aspiring eco warrior, remember these wise words – if it’s yellow let it mellow, if it’s brown flush it down!

Washing up

Easy win

Make sure your dishwasher is always full! Your dishwasher uses the same amount of water and energy, regardless of how many dishes you stack, so be generous with your loads.  

A bit more work

Don’t rinse dishes before washing. Instead, use a cake spatula (or a good old-fashioned knife) to scrape any excess food into your food waste bin. This saves water and means you won't be fishing leftovers out of the plug hole - yuck! 

Water saving hero

When washing up in the sink, use a washing up bowl, as this uses much less water than filling up the whole sink.

Wash the cleaner items, such as glasses, first and leave the really dirty dishes till last so you don’t have to change the water as often.

Washing machine

Easy win

Much like a dishwasher, you should always fill up your washing machine with a full load. Washing your clothes with a typical washing machine uses an average of 112 litres of water a week. Save clothes up rather than washing a few at a time. 

A bit more work

Treat stains before washing. Pre-treating stains will save having to put clothes through the wash more than once.   

Water saving hero

Is your machine nearing the end of its life? When it’s time to buy a new washing machine, invest in one that’s as water efficient as possible. Most modern machines have water saving modes that keep water and energy use to a minimum.

The garden

Easy win

Put the hosepipe down and grab a watering can. It takes a bit longer with a watering can, but you’ll find you waste a lot less water, targeting only the areas that need watering.

A bit more work

Get a water butt – or better still get two! They give you a plentiful supply of free rainwater to keep your plants hydrated, help you to save on your bills (if you have a water meter) and you can even link multiple butts together using butt lining kits. What’s not to love?   

 Water saving hero

Make sure that your garden uses water as efficiently as possible. With a bit of planning and preparation, you can create a water efficient sanctuary in no time. Take a look at our water saving garden tips.

Easy win

Knock a few minutes off your shower time. The average shower uses 10 litres of water a minute, so by halving your shower time from 10 minutes to 5 minutes, you'll save around 50 litres a day!  

A bit more work

The soap and rinse technique. Turn the shower on and get wet, then turn it off whilst you lather up with soap. Finally, hop back in and turn on the shower to rinse off. It can take a bit of getting used to, but you’ll soon be trying to set personal bests for how quickly you can shower.   

 Water saving hero

Skip a day. If you’re planning a duvet day, then going without a shower will help you to save buckets of water. Just pick a day where you don’t need to be red carpet ready and relax, safe in the knowledge that you've done your bit to save water.

Easy win

Less is more. Ok, less is less, but if you can shave an inch or two off the depth of your bath you can save plenty of water and we promise you won't notice the difference.

A bit more work

Switch for a shower. Sometimes nothing beats a soak in the tub, but if you’re a regular bather and you switch half of your baths for a 5-minute shower, you’ll see those water bills tumbling.

Water saving hero

If you have treated yourself to a relaxing bath, don’t touch that plug! If your kids are small enough to fit in, or maybe your pets need a pamper, re-use the water - sharing's caring.

If sharing just isn’t for you, you can still make a bath go further by grabbing your watering can and using the leftover water to keep your garden looking lush!

Easy win

If you’ve got a dual flush loo, make sure you use it! Use the small flush for number 1s, and the larger flush for number 2s!  

A bit more work

Check your loo isn’t leaky. Push flush cisterns are notorious for developing leaks – is there water trickling down the back of the bowl? If so, you may need to get it fixed. Read our tips for spotting a leaky loo. 

Water saving hero

Ok, we know this won't be for everyone, but if you’re truly an aspiring eco warrior, remember these wise words – if it’s yellow let it mellow, if it’s brown flush it down!

Easy win

Make sure your dishwasher is always full! Your dishwasher uses the same amount of water and energy, regardless of how many dishes you stack, so be generous with your loads.  

A bit more work

Don’t rinse dishes before washing. Instead, use a cake spatula (or a good old-fashioned knife) to scrape any excess food into your food waste bin. This saves water and means you won't be fishing leftovers out of the plug hole - yuck! 

Water saving hero

When washing up in the sink, use a washing up bowl, as this uses much less water than filling up the whole sink.

Wash the cleaner items, such as glasses, first and leave the really dirty dishes till last so you don’t have to change the water as often.

Easy win

Much like a dishwasher, you should always fill up your washing machine with a full load. Washing your clothes with a typical washing machine uses an average of 112 litres of water a week. Save clothes up rather than washing a few at a time. 

A bit more work

Treat stains before washing. Pre-treating stains will save having to put clothes through the wash more than once.   

Water saving hero

Is your machine nearing the end of its life? When it’s time to buy a new washing machine, invest in one that’s as water efficient as possible. Most modern machines have water saving modes that keep water and energy use to a minimum.

Easy win

Put the hosepipe down and grab a watering can. It takes a bit longer with a watering can, but you’ll find you waste a lot less water, targeting only the areas that need watering.

A bit more work

Get a water butt – or better still get two! They give you a plentiful supply of free rainwater to keep your plants hydrated, help you to save on your bills (if you have a water meter) and you can even link multiple butts together using butt lining kits. What’s not to love?   

 Water saving hero

Make sure that your garden uses water as efficiently as possible. With a bit of planning and preparation, you can create a water efficient sanctuary in no time. Take a look at our water saving garden tips.