Southern Water launched an online water calculator on 1 May 2025, saying it would help people protect water following one of the driest Aprils on record1. The tool gives people a tailored picture of their consumption and offers bespoke advice on where they could save water and reduce their bills, according to the company1.
Met Office figures cited by Southern Water show that England saw just over a third of its average April rainfall, with parts of the South East receiving even less than that1. The company said the region is already one of the driest in the UK and that by 2030, water demand could outstrip supply1. It also cited a Water UK poll finding that most UK households use more than five times the amount of water they think they do1.
The calculator asks for individual details about a household and uses them to estimate water usage and highlight where savings may be possible, the company said1. Southern Water's Water Efficiency Manager Kim Turnbull said:
"Our water calculator uses these individual details to estimate a household’s water usage and highlight where it may be possible to make savings."
Alongside the online tool, Southern Water said customers whose water consumption is significantly higher than average are offered home visits where engineers can install more water-efficient devices, identify and fix hidden leaks and offer water-efficiency tips1. The company said it is also trialling water-saving kits containing gadgets such as tap aerators or shower timers1. Its Business Partnership Fund, which opened for a new round last month, has already supported more than 20 new projects in schools, garden centres, animal sanctuaries and leisure centres, saving more than 50 megalitres of water, the equivalent of 20 Olympic swimming pools, it said1.
Southern Water said it is delivering its biggest ever investment programme to safeguard against water shortages, including funding new water sources, using new technology to prevent and fix leaks, and building new infrastructure including reservoirs1.
Why it matters for households
The calculator applies to Southern Water customers in its supply region, one of the driest in the UK, and is available now1. It does not change anyone's supply or bills directly; it estimates household usage from details the user enters and points to possible savings, which the company links to reducing bills1. Households with significantly higher than average consumption may be offered a home visit from engineers, and the company says it is trialling water-saving kits, though it has not reported how households are selected for the trial or how the kits are distributed1. Turnbull said that simple steps such as taking a shorter shower or installing a water butt in the garden add up to huge savings if everyone takes them1.
What happens next
Southern Water has not reported a closing date for the calculator, further detail on the water-saving kit trial, or when the next round of the Business Partnership Fund will close1. The company said its investment programme, including new water sources, leak technology and new infrastructure such as reservoirs, is under way, without giving completion dates1.
Households wanting to understand their own water use can read the guide to water, and those returning from a break can check what to do if water tastes odd after a holiday.
Sources (1)
- New water calculator helps customers save water, southernwater.co.uk
