Groundwater and reservoir levels are below normal as the UK experienced a dry winter last year and lower than average rainfall in the South East this winter.

In spite of the drought risk, environmental charity Hubbub and Affinity Water conducted research that showed few people have the most effective water saving devices in their home, even though they’re free from most water companies.

A survey of 3,000 UK residents revealed that only 14% own a water reducing shower head, 12% have a toilet water saving device and just 7% have a tap aerator.

As part of its campaign to reduce water bills in 40 households – measures included giving water saving showerheads to toothbrush cups – many people changed their behaviour by flushing less and reducing shower times.

Households saved an average of 1,632 litres of water per day with one in four able to make savings of over £100 on annual water bills.

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Trewin Restorick, founder and CEO of Hubbub, said: “With a bit of encouragement and some free gadgets, we found that households can make significant savings with regard to the amount of water they use.

“I am sure that if you asked most people in the South East of England about our weather they would say it rains a lot and there is no way we should be facing a water shortage. Unfortunately, this isn’t quite the case. If every household made some small changes now, this could make a really big difference to the amount of water available and save money on energy too.”

Simple ways to reduce your water bill

Here are Affinity Water and Hubbub’s top tips to reduce water use and cut your bills:

Toilet

Toilets use around 20 % of water in the home, so sharing a flush can help…as the saying goes: “If it’s yellow let it mellow, if it’s brown flush it down. If you have a dual flush toilet make sure you use the little button when possible.

Shower

Shorten your shower – aim for four minutes a day. Order a free shower timer from your water supplier to keep track of time.

Teeth

Turn off the tap when cleaning your teeth to save around 24 litres per day.

Clothes

Wait until you have a full load before doing the laundry. Two half loads use more water and energy than one full. Airing your clothes out after each wear makes them stay fresh for longer, and saves you time too.

Dishes 

Washing-up with a bowl or filling the basin uses 60% less water than leaving the tap running. If you use a dishwasher always stack it full before running to save water and energy.