How to save water to help nature and reduce pollution

22nd July 2025

We are facing a water crisis here in the UK and across the world. Climate change, water shortages, increasing demand, and pollution are threatening our freshwater, negatively impacting people, wildlife and the environment. Here’s some tips on how to save water in your day-to-day life to help nature, prevent water shortages, and reduce pollution.

How to save water at home

You likely do most of these already but here’s a reminder of small ways you can save water at home, especially during water shortages.

Turn off the tap. Don’t leave taps running while brushing your teeth, shaving, or washing your hands. You can also use a bowl of water to clean your vegetables. This can save up to 6-9 litres of water a minute.

Try having shorter showers. Aim to reduce shower times to around four minutes or less. Shower timers are available to buy. You could also consider installing water-efficient showerheads. Taking a shower instead of a bath also uses less water.

Only wash full loads. Run washing machines and dishwashers only when they are full to maximise efficiency and reduce the number of washes and the amount of water used. If you don’t have a dishwasher, fill a washing-up bowl with water and wash the cleanest items first so you won’t need to change the water.

Make sure to fix leaks. Regularly check for and repair leaky taps, toilets, and pipes. A dripping tap or leaking toilet can waste hundreds of litres per week!

Reuse water as much as possible. Collect water used for washing vegetables or dishes in a bowl and reuse it to water plants or clean your home. Also try to reduce your food waste as a lot of water is used to produce food.

Install water-saving devices. Use dual-flush toilets or place a water-saving device in your cistern to reduce the water used per flush. Fit low-flow aerators to taps and showers to decrease water flow without sacrificing strength.

Use only as much water as you need. Only boil or heat as much water as you need and put a jug or reusable bottle of water in the fridge to avoid running the tap for cold water.

Use a water meter. If possible, switch to a water meter. Households with meters are able to track usage, which usually leads to reductions in water use.

How to save water outdoors

We use a lot of water in our gardens. Being more mindful of how this is used can help save water.

Collect and use rainwater. Install water butts to harvest rainwater from roofs for watering plants or cleaning. This is better for plants and relieves pressure on mains water supplies.

Plan when you water plants. Water gardens early in the morning or late in the evening to reduce evaporation so plants will benefit more from the water. Use a watering can instead of a hose or sprinkler. Avoid watering lawns as grass will bounce back when it rains.

Try mulching and add drought-resistant plants. Mulch your soil to retain moisture and grow native or drought-resistant plants, which require less frequent watering.

How to prevent water pollution

The main sources of water pollution come from sewage and agriculture. It is up to governments and water companies to take responsibility for this and take action to protect and restore our waterways. However, there are small things that we can all do at home to reduce the impact of pollution.

Dispose of waste correctly. Never pour oils, paints, engine fluids, or chemicals down drains, toilets, or onto the ground. Use proper disposal sites for hazardous household waste. To dispose of cooking oils, you can put them in food waste or soak them up with paper towels and put them in the bin.

Be mindful of what you flush. Only flush toilet paper – avoid flushing wipes, sanitary products, or medicines, as these can block sewers and leak pollutants into waterways.

Avoid use of garden chemicals. Don’t use fertilisers or pesticides in your garden. Grow your plants organically and use more natural ways to manage pests such as companion planting.

Wash your car carefully. Wash cars on porous surfaces like lawns, not on driveways or roads, or use commercial car washes that dispose of wastewater responsibly. You could also invest in high quality tyres which will shed less microplastics and toxic chemicals which get washed into rivers.

Pick up after pets. Dog waste contains bacteria and nutrients that can pollute streams and rivers. Always bag and bin it even if you’re in a natural area like a woodland.

Prevent flea treatment getting into waterways. If you have recently treated your dog for fleas or other parasites, do not let them swim or paddle in streams, rivers and lakes. With cats, consider keeping them indoors for a few days. Flea treatment kills aquatic invertebrates which are vital for freshwater ecosystems.

Remove impermeable surfaces. Reduce surface-run off that can spread urban pollution into waterways. Remove paving, plastic, and concrete from your garden and replace with natural surfaces that allow water to soak into the ground such as a grass. This also helps to prevent flooding.

How to help wildlife

Wildlife depends on freshwater just as much as we do. Here’s how you can help wildlife especially during times of hot weather.

Leave shallow bowls of water outside. Place a shallow dish or bowl of water in your garden or outdoor space for birds, hedgehogs, bees, and other wildlife. Add a few pebbles or stones to allow insects and small animals a safe foothold and easy escape if they fall in.

Provide bird baths or make water features. A bird bath gives birds a place to drink and bathe, which helps them cool down and remove parasites. Bathtubs, shallow trays, or upturned dustbin lids also work. Make sure there’s a way for birds and mammals to get in and out safely, such as a stick or stones for a ramp.

Create or maintain garden ponds. Ponds provide food and a home for amphibians (like newts and frogs), birds, and insects. Make sure your pond has at least one gently sloped edge or a ramp to allow wildlife safe access and escape if they fall in.

Choose shaded locations for water. Place water sources in shaded areas to prevent them warming and drying up too quickly. It also provides a safe, cool spot for animals to visit without overheating.

Provide protection from predators. Put water sources near trees or shrubs to give visiting wildlife a sense of security and a way to escape from predators, including cats.

Cover up water containers. Make sure to cover up water butts or watering cans so wildlife can’t get in and drown.

What else can you do?

Our rivers and freshwater habitats are at crisis point and we need urgent action. Sign up to the Great UK WaterBlitz to join the fight for healthy freshwater!

Help us build a national picture of the state of water quality across the UK. With this data we can call for more solutions to be implemented like creating new wetlands to reduce water pollution.

We’re inviting everyone to go out and test the quality of their local river, stream or lake.