Regularly check and fix leaking taps and fixtures, both indoors and outdoors (including pipes and hoses). This is a simple and inexpensive method (washers cost approximately 80 cents), and can save you wasting up to 530 litres of water per week (and the money that you are charged for this wasted water).

To test for hidden leaks, note the reading on your water metre one night before going to bed, ensuring that all water inside and outside is shut off. Before any water is used the next morning, note the water metre reading again. If the two readings are not the same, then you need to find the hidden leak ASAP to reduce the amount of water (and money) being wasted.

Encourage everyone in the family (especially children) to turn taps off all the way. A continual drip from a tap can waste anywhere from 30 -200 litres of water per day. Wasted water which you pay for.

Install aerating taps. These are inexpensive and can reduce water flow by 50%, without impacting on the quality of the flow. This means that you can use your taps in exactly the same way, but be saving 50% of what you used to pay whenever you turned your taps on.

By insulating your hot water pipes, you can avoid wasting water while you run taps waiting for the hot water to flow through. This will also save you money on your power bill.

Make sure you know where your master shut-off valve is located. If a pipe bursts, this could save you thousands of litres of water and damage to your home.