Water saving top tips

Whether you want to reduce your water meter charges and/or reduce your environmental impact, our top tips should help you to do both:

  • Keep showers to five minutes — this can save litres of water and up to £190 a year on bills.
  • Choose showers over baths to use significantly less water.
  • Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or shaving.
  • Use a timer when showering, brushing teeth, washing the car, or watering the garden.
  • Fit a nozzle spray to your hose pipe so you can easily turn it on and off.
  • Wash fruit and veg in a bowl instead of under a running tap — you can reuse the water for your plants.
  • Reuse cooking water (e.g. from steaming or boiling) for soups or stocks.
  • Install a water butt to collect rainwater for your garden.
  • Chill tap water in the fridge instead of running the tap until it’s cold.
  • Soak dishes and pans rather than scrubbing them under a running tap.
  • Defrost food in the fridge or microwave, not under running water.

You can tap here to see more water-saving tips on the United Utilities website.

I think I'm paying too much for my water bills

If you live on your own or if you have a small family, a water meter could be right for you. Contact United Utilities today to find out if you could save money.

If you change your mind, you can switch back to a standard meter within 24 months if it’s not right for you.

Note: If United Utilities can’t fit a water meter at your property, you may still be entitled to a discount. This depends on your property type, unless you live alone, in which case you may be eligible for their Single Person Household Tariff.

You can tap here for more information and contact details on the United Utilities website.

'Help to pay' scheme for customers on Pension Credit

If your household receives Pension Credit and you’re struggling with your water bill payments, United Utilities' Help to Pay scheme may be able to help.

Customers accepted on to the scheme will have their annual charges capped at a lower amount. The amount you pay will depend on whether you live alone or with other adults at the same address who also receive Pension Credit.

You can tap here for more information and contact details on the United Utilities website.

You can save money on your water bills by setting up a Direct Debit

You can save on your water bill each year by setting up a Direct Debit payment plan with United Utilities. 

You can choose when to pay: weekly, fortnightly, or monthly.

Once your Direct Debit is set up, your payments will automatically be paid out of your bank account — meaning it's one less thing for you to worry about.

You can tap here for more information and contact details on the United Utilities website.

Did you know?

In just one day, a dripping tap can waste enough water to fill a whole bath!

Make sure all of your taps are properly turned off after each use to avoid unnecessarily wasting water.

Our free Home Energy Advice Service can help you to reduce your bills

We offer free Home Energy Advice Sessions to help you reduce your energy bills.

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When you book a free Home Energy Advice Session, our Home Energy Adviser will:

  • review your energy tariffs,
  • look at applying for grants and trust funds,
  • share tips to reduce your energy costs (while keeping things warm during the colder months),
  • provide advice on Winter Fuel Payments,
  • support you with energy disputes and making complaints to your energy provider,
  • and - where possible - provide even more tailored support based on your circumstances.

You can book a free Home Energy Advice Session by calling 07782 522498 or emailing  energyadvice@boltonathome.org.uk.

"My arrears were reduced to zero, thanks to Tom**!"

Our tenant Jean (name changed) thought Tom could help, so she got in touch.

Jean raised concerns over an unexpected £600+ bill she’d received (following a takeover of her previous energy supplier), so, Tom arranged a home visit to work things out.

After assisting with a three-way call, submitting up-to-date meter readings, and disputing the balance- it wasn’t long before he’d helped reduce Jean’s arrears to zero.

As well as reducing her arrears to zero, Jean also benefited from Tom's expert advice on how to save energy around the house.

**Tom is our Home Energy Adviser.