If you have a garden you can use rain water easily by buying a water butt, and filling it with a diverter from a down pipe. Remember to mount your butt high enough off the ground so that you can fit your bucket or watering can underneath the tap.

It is possible to utilise rainwater indoors, but this can be expensive. The UK Rainwater Harvesting Association has details of companies who can install systems which will allow domestic and commercial use of rainwater for non-potable (non drinking) purposes.

You can use grey water (used water) from sinks, dishwashers and washing machines, showers and baths to water your garden - but only if there are no harmful chemicals added – switch to environmentally friendly detergents etc. first. Oasis Design have lots of books and downloads about using grey water. An important consideration is that grey water does not keep! You must use it within 24 hours of collecting it or it will start to smell. If you’re using it to water plants, water the roots, not the leaves. Always let the water cool first. To use grey bathwater – make a siphon: put one end of a long hose into the bath, stick the other end out of the window, make sure the lower end is below the upper end, then suck!

Don’t automatically throw used water down the sink – think about what else you could use it for. You can often re-use cooking water over and over whilst preparing a meal – and finish off by using it with all the extra goodness in to make gravy.

When you’re running the tap waiting for it to turn hot, save the water and use it on your plants.