Save water
in Scotland – really?
1%
Working together to help you save water and energy
Scottish Water is working in partnership with Home Energy Scotland to help households across Scotland save water, energy and money. Water is part of everyday life. We use it constantly – from drinking tap water to washing, cooking, cleaning or flushing. But water isn’t just a resource – it’s closely linked to the energy we use at home, the bills we pay, and the environment around us.
Why save water?
Scotland may have a rainy reputation, but did you know that less than 1% of rainwater ends up somewhere Scottish Water has access to?
During dry weather, water reserves can drop quickly, putting pressure on local supplies. Climate change is making this more important than ever as warmer, drier summers are becoming more common. Recent years have already seen water alerts and unusually dry conditions across parts of Scotland.
This means that water is an increasingly precious resource. By preventing water waste, we can ensure that there’s enough for everyone – whatever the weather.
Saving water also helps tackle climate change. Every time you use water, it needs energy to treat it, clean it and pump it to your home – and then heat it if you’re using hot water. That’s why if we all reduce the amount of water wasted in the home, it will also help cut Scotland’s carbon emissions, protecting our environment.
Saving water helps you save energy and cut your bills
Around one fifth of the average household’s energy use goes on heating water for showers, baths, laundry and washing up, so it quickly adds up. In other words, the less hot water you use, the less energy you need, helping to lower your energy bills. You don’t need to make big changes to do this – making small changes such as taking shorter showers or using a kitchen tap aerator add up to make a big difference.
You can help save water and energy by following the water saving tips on this site – it’s good for the planet and your pocket.
Working together for a greener Scotland
1.8bn
There are more than five and a half million of us in Scotland, and each of us uses about 180 litres of water every day. Washing, cooking, thirst quenching and showering – everyone’s lives are water-powered. We take it for granted that high quality, clear and fresh drinking water comes out of our tap, yet a huge amount of energy goes into making water safe to drink and transporting it to our homes.
Scottish Water provides vital water and wastewater services to over 2.6 million households and over 160,000 business premises across Scotland. Scottish Water is one of the largest single users of electricity in Scotland by collecting, treating and pumping water to your home, as well as treating the wastewater that leaves your home before this is returned safely to the environment. We then use more energy heating it up to use at home, which produces carbon dioxide (CO2).
Scottish Water is committed to reducing its effect on the environment – becoming more energy efficient, embracing low carbon construction and new technologies to adapt to climate change, continuing to invest in renewables at their sites, and reducing carbon emissions and leakage. We can help too, by reducing the amount of water we waste.
Ensuring a sustainable future for Scotland’s water
Climate change is making it harder to deliver the water and wastewater services Scotland needs. Scottish Water’s long-term strategy sets out its plans to ensure that Scotland’s water and wastewater services remain sustainable, resilient, and affordable now and for generations to come. It also pledges to keep working hard to improve the lives of its customers and communities, and helping Scotland flourish, come rain or shine.
If we all play our part and work together to save water, we’ll cut our carbon emissions and our water supplies will go further, helping the environment and protecting this precious resource for everyone.
How can you save water?
Taking simple steps to save water will avoid high quality, clear and fresh drinking water going to waste. Saving water is about reducing the amount we waste each day, not restricting what we use. The good news is that small changes can add up to have a big impact.
We use water in different areas of the home.
How water is used in the average home
Bathroom
This includes water we use in our bath and shower, as well as water from our taps to wash, brush our teeth and shave.
Kitchen
This includes water we use for cooking, making a cuppa, or doing the dishes.
Toilet
This includes water that gets flushed.
Appliances
This includes water we use with the dishwasher and washing machine.
Are you water smart?
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In your bathroom
Showers and baths use the most amount of water in the home (28%), and toilets (24%). Here’s some simple tips to save water in the bathroom.
Follow these water saving tips
Tip 1Turn off the tap whilst brushing your teeth and shaving
Turning the tap off while brushing your teeth can save as much as 10 litres of water a day and around 3,700 litres of water per person per year. Use a plug when washing or shaving to stop wasting water down the drain.
Tip 2Only flush pee, poo and toilet paper
In a year, a family of four could flush the toilet over 10,000 times. That’s about 60,000 litres of water, or enough to fill 830 standard baths! Remember to only flush the three ‘Ps’ – pee, poo and toilet paper – to avoid blocking drains and causing damage to your home.
Tip 3Fix dripping taps
A dripping tap can waste over 5,500 litres of water a year. Make sure taps aren’t dripping by always turning them off properly and replacing the washer, if required.
Tip 4Make sure your toilet is not leaking
Water leaking from the cistern into the toilet bowl can waste between 215 and 400 litres every day! So, if your loo is leaking, get it fixed as soon as possible.
Tip 5Take shorter showers
Spending less time in the shower saves water and energy. Using a shower timer can help you do this. If everyone in your household took just four-minute showers, the savings really add up, especially if you have an electric shower. Fitting a water efficient shower head will help cut your energy costs even further. If you love baths, trying swapping one bath a week to a shower instead.
I didn't realise how long I spent in the shower until I started using [a shower timer]. My whole family uses it now and our water/electricity usage has reduced by a noticeable amount.
Householder supported by Home Energy Scotland, January 2026
In your kitchen
Over a fifth (21%) of the water used in the home is in the kitchen. Washing dishes, washing clothes, general cleaning, cooking and even making a cuppa all use water and energy. Here’s some simple tips to save water and energy in the kitchen.
Follow these water saving tips
Tip 1Boil the kettle with only the water you need
You’ll save water and energy if you only boil as much water as you need – and you’ll save time waiting for the kettle to boil too!
Tip 2Fill up your washing machine
A full load saves on water and energy, and if you wash on eco or 30°C when you can, you’ll save money and carbon too.
Tip 3Use the eco-mode on your dishwasher
Avoid pre-rinsing dishes – a quick scrape is all that’s needed. Only use the dishwasher when it’s full to reduce the number of times you run it, don’t overfill it, and consider using the eco setting. You can let the items air dry at the end too, to save more energy.
Tip 4Don’t waste water down the drain
A tap left running while washing dishes or fruit and vegetables on full flow loses around 12 litres of water a minute, so try using a bowl or plug. Fitting a kitchen tap aerator reduces the flow of water and could save 10,000 litres of water every year.
Tip 5Keep a jug of water in the fridge
Instead of letting the kitchen tap run cold, fill a jug of water and keep it in the fridge for when you want a cold drink
Outside your home
Here’s some simple tips to help you save water being used outside your home.
Follow these water saving tips
Tip 1Use a bucket and sponge to wash the car
If you’re washing the car, you can reduce the amount of water you use by swapping the hosepipe for a bucket and sponge. Or use a garden hose attachment which could reduce the amount of water used by up to 50%.
Tip 2Use a watering can instead of a hose
Use a watering can instead of a hose for your plants – not only will it use less water, but it gets the water to where you need it most. Watering your plants early in the morning or the evening also helps to reduce evaporation.
Tip 3Use a water butt to collect rainwater
Rainwater is free and is better for your plants as there is more nitrogen in the rain to make your plants thrive. Use a water butt to collect rainwater to use in your garden. A small Scottish roof collects over 45,000 litres of water each year, which is more than enough for you to keep your water butt topped up.
Tip 4Avoid overwatering the lawn
Your lawn is tougher than you think and doesn’t need watering every day, even in summer. Letting it grow slightly longer will also prevent the soil from drying out so quickly. If it really needs watered, use collected rainwater or even bathwater.
[A] garden hose gun… has made watering my plant pots much more efficient.
Householder supported by Home Energy Scotland, January 2026
Your water saving action plan
A small change can make a big difference to your energy bills and the environment. Which water-saving actions will you take?
Keeping up to date
and getting in touch
You can find more ways to save water at
scottishwater.co.uk/savewaterscotland
For more energy saving tips, visit homeenergyscotland.org or call Home Energy Scotland free on 0808 808 2282
About Scottish Water
Scottish Water is publicly owned and looks after Scotland’s most precious natural resource – we are trusted to care for the water on which Scotland depends. We are committed to acting responsibly in the way we deliver our services, promoting the importance of helping to protect this precious resource – water is always worth saving.
The goal is to deliver a quality service that protects the environment, whilst providing value for money and creating wider social, environmental, and economic benefits through our investment to support a flourishing Scotland now and in the future.
About Home Energy Scotland
Home Energy Scotland is funded by the Scottish Government to provide free, impartial energy advice.
Neither Energy Saving Trust nor any third parties provide any warranty or guarantee as to the accuracy, completeness or suitability of the information and data contained in this brochure.
