Here are some wise words for you ... ignore a leaky loo at your peril.
Not only could it treble your water bill, it also contributes to the billions of litres of water wasted each week in the UK.
Trust me. When our most recent quarterly bill landed it had more than doubled, and ashamedly showed we were using twice as much water than normal. An undetected leak was the cause.
The non-governmental organisation Waterwise says even a small trickle can waste up to 400 litres of clean drinking water every day, and cost you up to £400 extra per year. This means many homes and businesses are throwing money and water down the drain.
It’s easy to check if your loo is leaking. The water may run or drip down the back of the pan and into the toilet bowl, or you may hear your toilet refilling when you haven’t used it for a while.
If you’re not sure, wait 30 minutes after flushing, then run a piece of tissue around the back of the bowl. If it becomes wet this may indicate a leak.
Other signs to look out for are dripping overflow pipes on outside walls. If you’re still unsure, some water companies give away free test strips.
Data from water and smart meters can also help by spotting unusual night-time patterns or during holidays.
Enough water is also wasted each week from incorrectly using the dual-flush buttons on today’s toilets to supply the cities of Edinburgh, Cardiff, Sheffield, Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol and Belfast.
Failures in internal valve systems also allow water to dribble down the back of loos. Waterwise is now campaigning for manufacturers to design a way to combat this.
It is feared London could run out of water in 25 years, and our rivers could lose more than half their content by 2050. As we face growing risks from drought driven by the climate crisis, saving every precious drop must be a daily priority.
