The Environment Agency publishes a range of free literature relating to water conservation and demand management.
Publications for businesses
Practical information on how you can save money and energy by using less water, improve the reliability of your abstractions through storage, and use rain and greywater as alternative options:
A simple guide to implementing a water management plan on the farm.
A simple guide to developing and implementing a water management plan for business and public sectors.
Publications for homes
A colourful poster providing top tips on how to save water in the home and garden.
A practical guide on how to save water. Each chapter is dedicated to a different type of water use and some water saving options cost very little.
Rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling
View our current position on rainwater harvesting systems:
This guide sets out how wastewater from showers, baths and hand basins can be re-used or re-cycled to reduce consumption of mains water.
This publication has information about the benefits of these systems, savings that you can achieve, alternatives to consider, installation costs, maintenance requirements, water quality issues and regulations and guidance to follow.
Reports
Ofwat, Defra and the Environment Agency commissioned a report on the Sustainable Level of Leakage (SELL) to fulfill a commitment in the Water White Paper and to ensure more coherent application in future:
This report assesses the likely costs of complying with the levels of water efficiency set out in the Code for Sustainable Homes.
The Environment Agency and Greater London Authority jointly carried out a study to try and improve our understanding of how increased household water metering and different approaches to tariffs would impact on the affordability of water charges, particularly for lower income and/or socially vulnerable groups.
This publication presents a review of methods used to estimate domestic per capita consumption (PCC) of water in selected countries. Focuses on countries reported to have lower average PCC than England and Wales.
Increasing water efficiency is likely to result in reduced demand for water so less water flowing through drains and sewers and needing treatment.
We, along with nine water companies worked together on this project to assess devices which can be fitted to older toilet cisterns to reduce the volume of water used for flushing.
A study looking at the wider costs and benefits of water use appliances (washing machines, dishwashers, toilets, showers and direct hot water systems) from the perspective of householders and water companies.
A study looking at the potential for water efficiency savings within the existing housing stock in south east England. It concluded that around 65 Ml/d could be saved through large scale water efficiency retrofit schemes.
A study to investigate the feasibility of if and why a separate water savings trust is needed.
