Cornwall drought: the toilet leak that could waste 400 litres a day

You probably wouldn’t notice it. A thin trickle of clean water slipping down the back of the pan, all day and all night, and straight down the drain.

South West Water is asking customers to check their toilets for hidden leaks as the region enters a critical phase of an exceptionally prolonged drought.

Recent rainfall has been welcome, but it hasn’t been enough to take the pressure off water supplies. Rivers are still recovering and some reservoir storage is at a critical level. So saving water wherever possible matters more than ever.

How much water a leaking toilet can waste

A leaking toilet can waste up to 400 litres of water a day, and people often have no idea it’s happening.

A faulty toilet can let clean drinking water flow continuously into the pan. That’s precious water going to waste. And if your home is on a water meter, it could also be pushing up your bill.

West Cornwall in Severe Drought

West Cornwall is one of the areas the Environment Agency has moved into Severe Drought status, alongside other parts of Devon and the area served by Wimbleball Reservoir.

Following that move, the water company has applied for a Non-Essential Use Ban drought order to help protect supplies for customers served by Wimbleball Reservoir.

Free home water audits in the Wimbleball area

South West Water is aiming to help customers fix 750 leaking toilets. It is offering free home water audits to eligible customers supplied by Wimbleball Reservoir. That includes Exeter, Exmouth, Crediton, Sidmouth, Tiverton and surrounding areas across Mid and parts of East Devon, as well as a small part of Dorset including Lyme Regis.

Since April, it has helped customers get 375 leaking toilets repaired. That could be saving up to one million litres of water every week.

During a home audit, water efficiency specialists can:

• identify hidden water waste
• give tailored advice
• install water-saving devices
• repair leaking toilets and dripping taps where possible

The audits are limited to the Wimbleball area, but everyone across the region can take steps to cut water waste at home.

What else is being done to protect supplies

Alongside the leaky loo campaign, South West Water says it is fixing hundreds of leaks a day across its network. It is also strengthening infrastructure, improving reservoirs and treatment works, developing new water resources and helping customers use water more efficiently.

How to check your own toilet

Advice on checking for toilet leaks, fixing common problems and finding out whether you’re eligible for a free home water audit is on the South West Water leaky loo page.

“We all have a part to play”

Megan Williams, Water Efficiency Delivery Manager for South West Water, said: “We’re facing a critical water resources situation, and while we’re doing everything we can to protect supplies, we all have a part to play in making the water we have last longer.

“Leaking toilets can waste hundreds of litres of water every day, often without anyone noticing. Checking for leaks and getting them fixed is a simple step that can make a real difference, helping to protect water supplies and even saving customers money on their water bills if on a meter.

“We’re encouraging eligible customers to take advantage of our free home water audits, where our specialists can help identify leaks and provide practical advice on saving water.”