The UK's growing population, and changes in our lifestyles mean that our supply of water needs to be used carefully.

A lot of energy is used to purify our drinking water. This means that reducing water use leads to savings in energy, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

By making simple changes to the ways we use water, we can help to conserve this vital resource.

What can you do?

• Take advantage of Yorkshire Water's discounted water butt kits.
  
• Old toilet cisterns can use as much as 9 litres of clean water every flush. Reduce this by placing a 'bog hog' or 'hippo' in the cistern. Call 01423 556909 to obtain a free 'bog hog'
  
• Vegetables and fruit should be washed in a bowl rather than under a running tap and the leftover water can be used for watering house plants.
  
• Use the minimum amount of water required when you boil water in saucepans and kettles; that way, you'll save energy as well as water.
  
• Try keeping a bottle or jug of water in the fridge instead of running taps until the water runs cold.
  
• Half-load programmes on dishwashers and washing machines use more than half the water and energy of a full load. Therefore, wait until you have a full load before switching the machine on.
  
• Try not to leave the tap running while you brush your teeth, shave or wash your hands, as this can waste up to 5 litres of water per minute.
  
• A 5-minute shower uses about a third of the water of a bath. But remember that power showers can use more water than a bath in less than 5 minutes.
  
• Cotton wool and tissues should be put in a waste bin rather than flushed down the toilet.
  
• Dripping taps can waste up to 4 litres of water a day. Replace worn tap washers for a quick and cheap way of saving water.
  
• Burst water pipes can cause serious damage as well as waste water. Ensure your water pipes and external taps are lagged in time for the cold winter months.
  
• Water your garden in the cool of the early morning or evening. This will reduce the amount of water lost to evaporation
  
• If you water plants and shrubs too often their roots will remain shallow, weakening the plant. Leave them alone until they show signs of wilting..
  
• Regularly weed and hoe your garden, to ensure that watering helps plants and not weeds.
  
• Plant flowers and shrubs that thrive in hot and dry conditions such as thyme, evening primrose, rock rose, Californian poppy, pinks, lavender and buddleia.
  
• Mulches such as wood chips, bark and gravel help to prevent water evaporation and also suppress weed growth, saving you both water and time spent weeding.
  
• Lawns can survive long periods of dry weather if the grass is not cut too short. Even if the grass turns brown, it will quickly recover after a few days of rain.
  
• Garden sprinklers can use as much water in an hour as a family of four uses in a day. If you use a sprinkler, many water companies require you to have a water meter fitted.