Water Efficiency Of New-Build Homes Revealed
The growing water crisis is undeniable and its effects are going to be felt increasingly around the world as time goes on, with demand for freshwater expected to outstrip supply by 40 per cent by 2030… so it’s paramount that action is taken now and urgently to address the situation and prioritise sustainable water management across the board.
While it’s certainly fair that we all have our own individual roles to play in reducing our water footprint, industry will have the biggest and most immediate impact – especially the built environment, which is responsible for approximately 15 per cent of freshwater use around the world.
A growing body of evidence shows that water resources are being misused, overused and polluted, with the entire hydrological cycle now being shaped by climate change caused by human activity.
If the climate crisis as a whole is to be resolved, water management strategies must undergo radical change, which will ensure that the environment, agriculture and people have the water required to continue to thrive.
The role of water-efficient homes
As water availability continues to decline over the coming decades, coupled with increased urbanisation and population growth, groundwater supplies will need to be replenished and water demand reduced, while simultaneously making cities and other communities more resilient to climate change and extreme weather events like flooding and drought.
A recent National Infrastructure Commission report from 2018 found that unless action is taken, there is a one in four chance that significant numbers of households will see their water supplies cut off in the next 30 years because of severe drought.
Interestingly, it seems that new-build homes are more water efficient than older properties, with new research from the Home Builders Federation (HBF) showing that, on average, residents are able to save 27 per cent on their annual water bills, thanks to features like water-efficient taps, toilets and showers, as well as more modern appliances.
The average property in the UK currently uses approximately 150 litres of water per person per day, with the average household (2.4 people) reaching 130,000 litres of water annually. But new-build homes can reduce this substantially, using an average of 110 litres per person per day, amounting to 96,000 per year.
If we scale these savings up to account for the 240,000 new-builds that were erected in 2024, nearly 8.5 billion litres were saved – the same as 3,360 Olympic-sized swimming pools!
Such savings will become essential in the future, as housing development approval may well hinge on which part of the country they’re intended for.
Those regions facing water stress and scarcity issues may find that housebuilding projects stall. In fact, the Environment Agency has already advised against various new housing schemes in both Cambridge and Sussex because of pressures on local water supplies.
Choosing new-build homes means that buyers can drive down their utility bills while supporting the move towards a more sustainable future, with such properties providing practical solutions to the UK’s water crisis through smarter water use and more innovative home design.
Neil Jefferson, chief executive of the HBF, said: “Reducing the amount of water we use as a country is imperative. The house building industry is committed to playing its part and billions of litres of water are being saved each year by the purchasers of new-build homes.
“This not only helps the environment, it also saves new-build purchasers money, another benefit of buying new.”
How else can housebuilders reduce their water footprint?
Water reuse systems can prove invaluable in both new-build properties and the existing housing stock, but there are other ways in which water can be conserved, as well.
For example, greywater can be used for the likes of toilet flushing so that freshwater demand can be significantly reduced. Another solution could be using a rooftop rainwater harvesting system that delivers non-potable water to irrigation systems and bathrooms.
There’s also the potential to develop onsite wetlands that clean wastewater and return it straight to the aquifer below ground to create a localised continuous water cycle.
How can businesses help?
Even if you’re not in the construction industry, there’s a lot you can do to reduce your water usage and consumption. Switching water supplier is a great first step to take, as this will involve a water audit of your site so you can see how and where you’re using water.
Once you have this information, you can then start making more informed decisions about which water-saving solutions would be most appropriate and these can be adjusted over time as the needs of your business change.
If you’d like to find out more, get in touch with the Switch Water Supplier team today.