Here in the UK, we’re lucky enough to have easy and instant access to good quality, safe to drink tap water. While we’d always recommend the use of a water filtration system to ensure the best tasting and healthiest drinking water, saving tap water is integral to lowering water consumption at home.

The average person in the UK uses 140 litres of water every day according to The Environment Agency. But lowering this figure will have untold benefits for your home and your finances. Saving water is vital for preserving the health of the planet too.

Water-saving tactics used at home not only conserve the world’s precious water resources but help to combat climate change as Intelligent Facility Solutions explains:

“The irregularity of rainfall is making it harder to predict availability. More droughts and flooding are becoming increasingly common events. Tree planting is a vital step in combating climate change however if more trees are to be planted in the UK then they will also place an increased demand on already limited available water to survive.”

We recently listed many ways to save water at home, but saving and recycling the water you use when running the shower to just the right temperature or cooking your favourite dishes is another way to be more economical with your home’s water supply. Shower water can be easily caught by placing a bucket (or two) underneath.

Draining cooking water from vegetables and pasta into a separate container for later use is another easy way to hang onto the water. But how can this recycled water be reused? In this blog post, we reveal five great uses for water saved from showering and cooking.

1. Water your garden

During the autumn and winter months, your flowers, shrubs and garden greenery need all the help they can get to stay in tip-top condition.

Cooled water that’s previously been used to cook pasta and vegetables provides a lovely little hit of nutrients to keep your garden thriving even as the weather takes a turn for the worst.

2. Flush your toilet

Flushing your toilet uses a surprising amount of water. Every toilet that’s been manufactured since 1994 uses up to 1.6 gallons of water with every flush.

If your toilet is even older, then you can expect it to use a staggering 3.5 to 7 gallons of water per flush – that’s a lot of water!

Many people choose to upgrade their toilet to a low flush model to ensure less water is being used with every bathroom visit but there’s an easier way to avoid wasting gallons of water.

The buckets of water you collect from running your shower will provide all you need to manually flush without using a single drop from your toilet. Simply pour the water from the bucket into the bowl of the toilet and watch its contents disappear.

3. Wash your windows

Whilst this cleaning job isn’t suitable for recycling cooking water, it’s perfect for the water you save while running the shower.

Make your windows clean and pristine from the inside and out with your recycled shower water and a little elbow grease.

4. Clean your car

Save money on valeting and water in one fell swoop by taking your recycled water and using it to wash your car.

Cooled water that’s previously been used for cooking should not be used but that recycled shower water will certainly come in handy.

If you’re looking to do a thorough job, take advantage of the season’s rainy weather by placing a few buckets outside to catch rainwater for car cleaning.

5. Drink up

All those nutrients found in your saved vegetable water shouldn’t go to waste. You can enjoy a double dose of the good stuff by drinking vegetable water to stay hydrated and boost immunity to ward off winter colds and flu.

Cooled vegetable water is a great way to take in nutrients without consuming calories. It can even be warmed, steeped with additional herbs, and enjoyed as a soothing tea.

Vegetable water can be used again during cooking. It makes a great and flavoursome stock for those winter soups and stews.