Free Save a Flush Offer

Archant London have teamed up with Thames Water, to give away 10,000 Save-a-Flush bags!

A family of four can save the equivalent of more than 100 five-litre buckets of water per month by fitting an easy-to-install device in their toilet cistern, says Thames Water.

The Save-a-flush is a bag of harmless crystals which expand when submerged in water, helping save a litre of water per flush.

The toilet is the biggest user of water in the average home, accounting for about a quarter of the water consumed.

The Environment Agency already classifies the Thames Water region as ‘water stressed’, and climate change is expected to have a major impact in the future, bringing hotter, drier summers. 

Helen Chapman, Water Efficiency Manager at Thames Water, said: “Population growth in our region has been greater than forecast in recent years, and is predicted to carry on rising.

“The amount of water used per head in our area is already greater than in other parts of the country.  People use an average of 160 litres per day – 10 litres more than in other areas.

“It’s predicted that this figure will continue to rise, partly because the average household size is reducing, which tends to mean people use more water.

“All of this means it’s increasingly important that we highlight the importance of saving water – and explain how easy it is to do so.

“There are plenty of simple things people can do to reduce the amount thy use, without making big changes to their lifestyle.”

Thames Water’s Top 10 Tips

1. Don’t leave the tap running while brushing your teeth.  A running tap uses six litres per minutes.

2. Have a refreshing shower instead of a bath.  This can save over 300 litres per week.  But be careful – a power shower can use more water than a bath.

3. Make sure you have a full load before using your washing machine.  A full load uses less water than two half-loads.

4. Keep a jug of cool water in the fridge, saving the need to run the tap until it’s cold.

5. Collect rainwater in a water butt to use on your plants and lawn, or when washing the car. To order one, visit www.thameswater.co.uk/waterbutt or call 0845 658 0055.

6. Don’t leave the tap running to clean dishes or vegetables.  Use a bowl of water instead.

7. Use a bucket when you wash your car, which uses up to 125 litres less than a hosepipe.

8. Fix leaking taps – this can waste 140 litres per week.

9. During the summer, water your garden only in the early morning or late evening.  Avoiding the middle of the day minimises evaporation from the soil.

10. Fit a free water-saving device inside your toilet cistern.  Order one free of charge at https://www.thameswater.co.uk/watersavingdevicesarchant.

The Save-a-flush is a bag of harmless crystals that saves one litre per flush.