UK households are being urged to reuse ‘grey’ water from 2025 to save on bill costs.
It comes as homes in England and Wales face an average hike of £86 to their water bills next year following a ruling by regulator Ofwat.
Ofwat has granted an average bill increase of 36% versus current levels, which will see household costs go up by £157 on average over the next five years.
It means that water companies will be allowed to raise typical bills by £31 annually, or £157 in total, over the next five years to £597 by 2030, to help finance a £104 billion upgrade for the sector.
But despite the £31 a year increase, households will be particularly hard hit from April when they face an average hike of £86, with smaller percentage increases to follow in each of the next four years.
The bill increases have been calculated before inflation, which will be added on top, which means average household costs are likely to be higher.
The ruling has sparked warnings from consumer groups that the hikes are “more than what many people can afford” and have been branded “extortionate”.
Households that are on a set tariff will have little control over the price increases, but those on a water metre can cut costs by minimising water use.
Plumbing expert Mike Flook, from MyBuilder.com, says one way to slash your bill is by reusing ‘grey’ water.
Grey water is waste water from non-toilet plumping systems, such as your bath, shower, sink and washing machine.
It contains soap, detergents, hair, fat and oil from cooking and can be reused for various purposes, including watering your garden and flushing toilets, although it should never be used on edible crops like vegetables, fruit and herbs.
Reusing this water is an easy way to save money on your water bill and it’s good for the environment.
Mr Flook explains: “It’s all too simple to just let used water run down the plughole, but it’s extremely wasteful as much of it can be used for other purposes. Bath water, cooking water, or excess water used for cleaning can be used around the garden or for your lawn.
“A four-member household generates 360 litres of greywater (90 litres per person per day), so try and repurpose where you can, to save money and the environment.”
