Water
Our total annual water usage, measured in Cubic Metres, each year since 2001:
More commonly used to compare households, we also calculate the average daily litres per person.
OFWAT says the UK average household is 140 litres per day.
The table below shows our steady reduction over recent years, while the 2017-18 peak was caused by the building of two small extensions on our building.
| Year | Litres per person per day * |
| 2002 | 219 |
| 2010 | 137 |
| 2019 | 123 |
| 2022 | 112 |
| 2023 | 97 |
| 2024 | 139 |
| 2025 | 100 |
To translate these figures, in year ending October 2025 we consumed approximately 73 Cubic Metres of water a year x 1,000 = 73,000 litres a year or an average of 200 litres a day between 2 adults which averages 100 litres per person per day.
Water saving technologies
- Installation of a water meter in 1998 allowing for accurate consumption monitoring, record keeping and management.
- Harvesting and storing rooftop rainwater in 7 butts and tanks with total storage of just under 1,500 litres. Five of these water butts/tanks are interconnected to provide water to the Vegetable garden as top priority and thereafter fill the other tanks.
- Fitting an Interflush DIY kit
that fited on top of the toilet siphon and reduced the toilet flush. This was decommissioned in 2019 when both toilets were replaced with dual-flush iFlo Kamira 
toilets. - An A-rated water consumption ISE10 Washing machine
was installed in 2008. In 2015, this was replaced by a Bosch WAQ28462 
washing machine. - The Dishwasher is a water efficient Bosch SMS69L32GB acquired in 2015.
- In early 2026, the bath was replaced with a shower tray and Bluetooth pumped mixer shower. This usefully tells us the litres used at then end of each shower.
Our Water saving behaviours
- Only using a watering can for watering potted plants and the vegetable garden.
i.e. a self-imposed and ongoing hose pipe ban.
- Continuing the 35-year habit of switching off the tap while brushing our teeth!
- We have daily showers, not baths.
- The 2026 Bluetooth shower reports water usage at the end of each shower. This has reduced our water use as we challenge oursleves to use less per session. We have the unit set on ECO mode and can pause it to lather. Best so far is 9 litres for a non-hairwash shower.
- In the garden, we normally plan indigenous plants and shrubs. Anything that cannot thrive in the UK seasons is not replaced.