What you can do

In the home

• Half-load programmes on dishwashers and washing machines use more than half the water and energy of a full load. Therefore, wait until you have a full load before switching the machine on
• Try not to leave the tap running while you brush your teeth, shave or wash your hands, as this can waste up to five litres of water per minute
• A five-minute shower uses about a third of the water of a bath. But remember that power showers can use more water than a bath in less than five minutes
• Old toilet cisterns can use as much as nine litres of clean water every flush. Reduce this by placing a ‘save-a-flush’ or ‘hippo’ in the cistern. You can order 'Save-a-flush' bags from Severn Trent Water at www.stwater.co.uk or tel: 0870 783 4444
• Dripping taps can waste up to four litres of water a day. Replace worn tap washers for a quick and cheap way of saving water.

In the garden

• Watering in the cool of the early morning or evening helps to reduce evaporation losses
• Treat your plants and collect rainwater in a water butt to use on your garden, it conserves valuable water resources and is better for your plants
• Plant flowers and shrubs that thrive in hot and dry conditions such as thyme, evening primrose, rock rose, Californian poppy, pinks, lavender, buddleia and hebes
• Mulches such as wood chips, bark and gravel help to prevent water evaporation and also suppress weed growth, saving you both water and time spent weeding
• Lawns can survive long periods of dry weather if the grass is not cut too short. Even if the grass turns brown, it will quickly recover after a few days of rain
• Garden sprinklers can use as much water in an hour as a family of four uses in a day. If you use a sprinkler, many water companies require you to have a water meter fitted.