Can You Get Free Water-Saving Devices From Your Water Company?
Water bills have risen sharply during the cost-of-living crisis, making free water-saving devices far more useful than they might have appeared a few years ago.
The average household water and wastewater bill in England and Wales rose by a further £33 from the 1st of April, taking it to £639 a year, following the much larger average increase of £123 the previous year.
Your actual bill will depend on your supplier, where you live and whether you have a water meter, but using less water can now make a noticeable difference for many households.
The long spell of hot and dry weather has also led to hosepipe bans across large parts of England. Here in Hampshire, we’re among the households currently affected, which means many of the usual ways of watering gardens, washing cars and filling paddling pools are restricted.
Free water-saving devices won’t solve the wider shortage, but they can reduce demand inside your home while helping you spend less on water and the energy needed to heat it.
How do you get free water-saving devices in the UK?
You can check whether you qualify for free water-saving devices by entering your postcode into CCW’s Get Water Fit tool. The tool asks a few questions about your home and water use, then shows you the products your supplier may provide. Most water companies participate in some form, although the range available can differ between neighbouring areas.
This postcode approach is more useful than maintaining a long list of participating suppliers, as company schemes and stock can change.
You might be shown completely free products, discounted items or advice suited to your household. Check the price and delivery information before ordering, rather than assuming everything displayed will be sent without charge.
What free water-saving devices could you receive?
The products commonly offered include shower heads, tap fittings, shower timers, cistern displacement devices, and strips that help detect a leaking toilet. Some suppliers also provide gardening products, such as hose nozzles or devices that help direct water towards plant roots.
What appears when you enter your postcode will depend on your water company and the schemes it currently funds.
Water-saving device | What it does | Where it may help |
Water-saving shower head | Restricts the volume of water while maintaining a usable shower spray | Cuts hot water use in suitable showers |
Tap aerator or regulator | Mixes air into the flow or limits the amount coming through | Bathroom and kitchen taps |
Shower timer | Encourages shorter showers | Useful for adults and children who lose track of time |
Cistern displacement device | Reduces the volume needed to refill an older toilet cistern | Toilets without a modern dual flush |
Leaky-loo detection strip | Shows whether water is escaping continuously into the toilet bowl | Finding hidden toilet leaks |
Universal plug | Allows you to fill a basin rather than leave the tap running | Washing up, cleaning and personal care |
Check the instructions before attaching a shower head or regulator. Some products aren’t suitable for electric showers, digital showers, power showers, or homes with low water pressure, while others are designed for a broader range of systems.
The individual product page should explain compatibility, and it’s worth checking rather than ordering something you can’t safely use.
Do free water-saving devices actually save money?
Free water-saving devices can directly reduce your bill if your home has a water meter, since metered customers pay based on the amount of water they use.
An unmetered household won’t usually see its water charge fall simply because it uses fewer litres, but products that reduce hot water use can still cut gas or electricity costs. This means a showerhead or flow regulator may provide a financial benefit even when your water bill is based on your property rather than on usage.
The Energy Saving Trust estimates that changing to a suitable water-saving shower head could save around £25 a year and reduce water use by about 9,200 litres. It also estimates that limiting showers to four minutes could save around £45 a year, although the savings will vary depending on your energy tariff, shower type and household routines.
These are estimates rather than guaranteed savings, but they show why hot water is one of the first areas worth tackling.
A cistern device can also make a measurable difference in an older toilet. Ofwat says these devices can save between 1 and 3 litres each time the toilet is flushed, depending on the cistern.
You shouldn’t put one in a modern dual-flush toilet unless the manufacturer or your water company says it is suitable, as modern models are designed to use a smaller volume.
Why does this matter during a hosepipe ban?
Water-saving measures matter during a hosepipe ban because the restrictions are introduced to reduce non-essential demand and protect essential supplies. When last checked, almost 40% of England’s population was facing some form of water-use restriction, with bans covering several major company areas.
The Environment Agency’s latest dry-weather update said river flows and reservoir levels had continued to fall after very low rainfall.
South East Water brought restrictions into force across Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex and Berkshire from the 25th of July 2026, following an earlier ban in Kent.
Thames Water introduced company-wide restrictions on the 23rd of July 2026, while other suppliers had already implemented their own bans. Restrictions can be introduced, changed or lifted at different times, so check the company supplying your drinking water rather than relying on a national headline.
A hosepipe ban, formally called a Temporary Use Ban, normally prevents you from using a mains-fed hosepipe or pressure washer to water a garden, wash a car, clean outdoor surfaces or fill a paddling pool.
Buckets and watering cans can still be used under the standard restrictions, although each company publishes its own exemptions and detailed rules.
Breaching a ban can result in a fine of up to £1,000, so check before assuming that a particular use is permitted.
What other ways can you save water at home?
Free water-saving devices work best when combined with changes that prevent water from being wasted elsewhere in the home. You don’t need to turn daily life upside down, but it is worth looking at showers, toilets, taps, and appliances, since these are used repeatedly.
A small, repeated reduction can have more impact than an occasional dramatic effort.
Check your toilets and taps for leaks
A leaking toilet may be difficult to spot because the water can run silently into the bowl without forming an obvious puddle. The Environment Agency says a leaky toilet can waste between 200 and 400 litres a day, which can become expensive for a metered household.
Use a detection strip if your supplier provides one, or place a few drops of food colouring in the cistern and check whether the colour appears in the bowl without flushing.
Dripping taps should also be repaired rather than left for another day. A hot tap wastes water and the energy used to heat it, so the cost can appear on more than one household bill.
Check beneath sinks and around outdoor taps too, as slow leaks can remain hidden until a larger problem develops.
Turn the tap off when you aren’t using the water
A running tap can use up to 9 litres of water per minute, so leaving it on while brushing your teeth soon adds up. Turn it off until you need to rinse, and use a bowl when washing fruit, vegetables or dishes rather than keeping the tap flowing. Water used to rinse fruit and vegetables can then be carried outside and used on plants.
Keeping a jug of drinking water in the fridge can also reduce waste while waiting for the tap to run cold. This is especially useful during hot weather, when you may be filling glasses and bottles more often. You still have chilled tap water ready to drink without sending several litres down the drain first.
Make showers shorter rather than colder
Shortening a shower reduces both the water used and the energy needed to heat it. A five-minute shower uses around 40 litres according to Ofwat, although high-flow and power showers may use more.
A timer can help if four or five minutes feels shorter than expected once you’re actually under the water.
Cold showers aren’t required to save money, and they aren’t realistic advice for many households.
Concentrate on the shower length and flow rate instead. The combination of a shorter shower and a suitable water-saving head is likely to achieve more than relying on willpower alone.
Only run full washing machine and dishwasher loads
Wait until your washing machine or dishwasher has a full load, unless the manufacturer’s instructions say otherwise. Ofwat says some newer dishwashers can use around 10-15 litres per cycle, so repeatedly running partial loads wastes water and electricity.
Use the eco programme where appropriate, as it is designed to clean using less energy, even though the cycle may take longer.
You don’t need to rinse every plate under a running tap before putting it in the dishwasher. Scrape off any leftover food and check the appliance instructions, as modern detergents and machines are designed to handle normal food residue. This cuts the water used before the cycle has even started.
How can you save water in the garden during a hosepipe ban?
You can still protect the plants that need help during a hosepipe ban by using a watering can, collected rainwater and carefully reused household water.
Apply water directly to the soil around the roots rather than wetting leaves or the surrounding ground.
Watering early in the morning reduces evaporation and gives plants access to moisture before the hottest part of the day.
A water butt stores rain from your roof, shed or greenhouse and gives you a supply that doesn’t come directly from the mains. Water from a butt can usually be passed through a hose because the ban applies to water supplied through the mains, although you should still read your supplier’s rules.
It may feel slightly optimistic to install a water butt in the middle of a drought, but it will be ready when the next shower arrives.
Bath, shower and washing-up water can be reused on ornamental plants for short periods, provided it doesn’t contain bleach, disinfectant, dishwasher salt or harsh cleaning products. The Royal Horticultural Society advises using this grey water promptly rather than storing it for more than 24 hours, and recommends avoiding its use on crops eaten raw.
Long-term use can lead to salt buildup in the soil, so treat it as an option in dry conditions rather than as the garden’s only water source.
Established lawns can usually be allowed to turn brown, as healthy grass often recovers when cooler weather and rain return.
Concentrate your limited water on pots, recently planted shrubs and plants showing genuine signs of stress. Adding mulch around plants also slows water loss from the soil, although the ground should be watered before the mulch is applied.
Will using less water reduce an unmetered bill?
Using less water won’t normally reduce an unmetered water bill immediately because the charge isn’t calculated from the number of litres used.
You can still save on gas or electricity by reducing the amount of hot water used for showers, taps, and washing. Your efforts also reduce pressure on local supplies, which matters during periods of high demand and low rainfall.
People with water meters are more likely to see a direct financial return from these changes. Check your meter regularly and compare similar periods rather than relying on a single reading, as holidays, visitors, and seasonal gardening can distort the result.
An unexpected increase when your routine hasn’t changed may be a sign of a leak.
What can you do if your water bill is becoming unaffordable?
Water companies offer more than free devices, and some households may qualify for discounted social tariffs, capped charges, payment plans or debt support. The eligibility rules differ across suppliers, so there isn’t a single national income limit or discount.
My separate guide to getting help with your water bill costs explains water meters, assessed charges, social tariffs and WaterSure in more detail.
Contact your water company before missing a payment where possible. It may be able to adjust your plan, check whether you qualify for a reduced tariff or point you towards a hardship fund. The independent Consumer Council for Water can also provide advice to customers in England and Wales if you aren’t getting the help you need.
Free water-saving devices are worth checking because the application takes only a few minutes and the products may reduce water use for several years. Start with the postcode checker, fit only devices suitable for your plumbing, and combine them with leak checks and shorter showers.
During a hosepipe ban, check your supplier’s live rules before using water outdoors, as restrictions and exemptions may change as conditions develop.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get free water-saving devices?
Use CCW’s Get Water Fit tool and enter your postcode to see what your water company offers. You’ll answer a few questions about your household and water use before being shown any available products. The range depends on your supplier and postcode.
Are free water-saving devices really free?
Many water companies offer selected products free of charge, although availability and delivery terms vary. Check the order page before submitting your details, as some suppliers may offer discounted products alongside free ones. You shouldn’t assume every product shown will cost nothing.
Do water-saving devices lower your water bill?
They can lower your bill if you have a water meter because you pay for the amount you use. They can still reduce energy costs in an unmetered home by reducing the amount of hot water that needs heating. Your actual savings depend on your household, fixtures, and habits.
Can I use a watering can during a hosepipe ban?
Watering cans and buckets are generally allowed during a hosepipe ban, even when filled from a mains tap. Restrictions and exemptions can vary by supplier, so check your water company’s current notice before using water outdoors. Water collected in a water butt can normally be used through a hose because it isn’t mains water, but confirm the local rules.
Can I get a rebate during a hosepipe ban?
A hosepipe ban doesn’t automatically give you a rebate. Metered households may pay less if they use less water, while unmetered charges normally remain unchanged. Check your supplier’s notice, as the billing position is set by each company.
