Back-to-school season means a fresh routine - washing uniforms, packing lunches, and busy mornings. It also means we tend to use more water at home, from extra laundry to washing up lunchboxes.
We want to help you make this term water smart. That’s why we’re entering our third year of our Water Smart Schools program - a fun, hands-on initiative that teaches children about where water comes from, why it’s precious, and how to use it wisely. This year, we’re refreshing our resources and introducing free LEGO workshops to schools across our region.
Through our classroom resources and exciting activities, pupils learn to be water-saving champions - sharing what they’ve learned with their families and helping you to save water at home.
Here are six easy ways to save water this September:
1. Make laundry day count
School uniforms and PE kits mean more frequent washing, but you can easily save 14 litres per wash by only running your washing machine when it’s full and switching to the ECO setting. This small change helps you save water and energy while keeping those school shirts crisp and clean.
2. Rethink the dishwasher routine
Scrape plates instead of rinsing them before loading the dishwasher – this small swap could save up to 1,115 litres of water every year. Always run the dishwasher when it’s full and on the ECO setting, it’s more water-efficient than washing up by hand.
3. Water bottle hacks
Avoid running the tap until it’s cold by keeping a jug of water in the fridge to fill water bottles in the morning. This can save 10 litres every day, and it’s perfect for quick grab-and-go drinks during the morning rush. After school, encourage your children to use leftover water from their bottles on the plants.
4. Fruit and veggie prep
When getting fruit and vegetables ready for school lunches, wash everything you need in one go rather than each item separately. This simple switch saves 20 litres every week and makes packing those lunch boxes that little bit easier.
5. Cut down your shower
Encourage everyone in the family to shave just two minutes off their showers. You’ll save around 30 litres per shower, and it’s a great way to get kids involved in saving water. Even better, sign up for My Water Footprint and claim your free water-saving shower head to save an additional 90 litres per shower!
6. Turn off that tap
Turning off the tap while brushing your teeth can save 24 litres per person per day. Get the kids involved by turning it into a challenge - who can brush the longest without using water?
These small, simple changes can make a big difference to your household water use - and help your children learn great habits along the way. Our Water Smart schools programme is already helping thousands of pupils learn how to value water and take practical steps to protect this precious resource.
If you’re a teacher, or want your child’s school to get involved, schools can sign up to the program to receive free learning resources, interactive assemblies, and fun challenges to engage students. The best part? Children take these lessons home - inspiring the whole family to make water-saving a daily habit.
Start this school year smarter. Learn more about our educational resources for children and how your family can save water and keep life flowing.