Wessex Water offers advice on saving every drop

Fix your leaky loo and reach for the watering can to make big savings on your bills and help the environment.

That is the advice from Wessex Water ahead of Water Saving Week 2026, which runs from Monday 12 May and is Waterwise’s annual campaign to encourage people to cherish every drop when spending more time in their gardens.

While hosepipes and sprinklers can use between 500 and 1,000 litres of water an hour, watering cans use much less and are more efficient at targeting the roots of plants. Be sure to use rainwater rather than tap water if you have a water butt installed.

Inside the home, Wessex Water supply customers who are on a meter could be increasing their monthly bill by £60 – or a whopping £720 a year – by not fixing leaks in their loos.

Water trickling down the back of the toilet pan is often silent and can go unnoticed, but there are four simple steps to follow to check.

• Step 1: Flush your toilet and the leave it for 15 to 30 minutes.
• Step 2: Dry the back of the toilet pan with a piece of toilet paper.
• Step 3: Place another piece of toilet paper on the back of the pan.
• Step 4: Leave your toilet for three to four hours before checking to see if the paper is wet – if so, you may have a leak.

Leaks of this type are often caused by a broken flush or fill valve, which can be fixed relatively easily by someone who is confident with DIY. If not, Wessex Water recommends contacting a qualified plumber.

Wessex Water fixes more than 300 leaks on its network every week and has invested £230 million in a grid to move water around to meet changing demands, helping to ensure there hasn’t been a hosepipe ban in its supply region since 1976.

For more water-saving advice in the home and garden, visit wessexwater.co.uk/saving-water.

You can also speak to someone face-to-face at one of Wessex Water’s community drop-in sessions, which are held regularly across Wiltshire to answer any questions you may have about your bill or water/sewerage services. Visit wessexwater.co.uk/community-drop-ins for details.