NI Water offer water saving advice ahead of warmer weather

28 April 2025 12:46

With the Met Office confirming temperatures are expected to climb this week, NI Water is raising awareness about the need to be water efficient and reduce water waste.

NI Water say with the forecast telling us to expect sunny, dry and warmer weather there are some simple ways the public can save water in their house and garden, including using the Get Water Fit app www.getwaterfit.com

NI Water education officer Anna Killen said: “It’s important we all play our part in protecting future water supplies that may come under pressure because of our changing climate and population growth.

“As the warmer weather approaches demands on water supplies will naturally increase but with a few simple changes, customers can save hundreds of litres of water which in turn will benefit the environment and save you money.

“One simple way to help you get started is to log on to the www.getwaterfit.com online water audit to discover how much water you use in your homes and learn new ways to help you make savings all year round.”

Top water saving tips at home and in the garden:

1. Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth - A running tap can use 6 litres of water per minute. Over a month this wastes enough water to provide over 65 people with water for hand washing for a full day.
2. Use a bowl for washing vegetables - Then you can reuse this water for plants.
3. Make full use of your washing machine - Half load programmes on washing machines use more than half the water and energy of a full load, so wait until the machine is full before switching it on.
4. Keep a jug of water in the fridge - instead of letting the tap run cold.  
5. Fix leaking taps, including outdoor taps - A dripping tap can waste more than 60 litres of water per week.
6. Use a watering can instead of a hose - A hose uses over 500 litres of water an hour enough to fill 12 baths.
7. ‘Get Water Fit’ - To help keep the water flowing for everyone and ‘Get Water Fit’, complete the online water audit at https://www.getwaterfit.co.uk or take part in water saving challenges to receive your free NI Water water saving items including a 4 minute shower timer, toothy timers and swell gel bags for the garden.

NI Water is also encouraging customers to sign up to its free text alert service which keeps them updated about anything that may impact on their water supply or any of our other services in the area. Sign up here https://www.niwater.com/register-for-keeping-you-informed/

Ends

Notes to editors

• In October 2024 findings from a report called the 2023/34 Continuous Household Survey were published showing findings in relation to water usage in Northern Ireland. It was published and produced by the Analysis, Statistics and Research Branch (ASRB) of the Department for Infrastructure (DfI), and presents findings from the 2023/24 Continuous Household Survey (CHS).
• The publication is available on the new Water Usage Research webpage 
• The CHS showed 55% of people in Northern Ireland shower six to 10 times per week and 48% of people shower for between two and five minutes each time they use the shower. 58% of people own a dishwasher and 16% use it every day. The report also shows 99% of people own a washing machine, with 22% saying they use it every day. And 67% of respondents say they use a hosepipe or bucket to water plants, while 52% use them to wash their cars.

Media enquiries to the NI Water Press Office via email to press.office@niwater.com