Water Saving Week returns from 4^th to 8^th May 2026, an important yearly call to come together to conserve water, safeguard nature, support communities and ensure everyone has access to water in the future. 

With rain expected to return later this week, NI Water is encouraging some mindful water-saving habits to help householders and gardeners make the most of the rainfall for a water-wise future.

The advice follows on from the Continuous Household Survey in relation to water usage in Northern Ireland which showed consumers here perhaps underestimate their true water footprint. Almost half (48%) shower 7 times a week with around 9 in 10 (89%) showering three or more times a week. Nearly half (45%) take 2–5 minute showers, while 13% shower for over 10 minutes. Most households (85%) say they use a washing machine more than once a week, including 27% who say they use it daily. For outdoor use, 83% say they have a hosepipe or bucket, mainly for watering plants (61%), power washing (47%) and watering lawns (26%).

Anna Killen, NI Water’s education officer, commented: “Water Saving Week is the ideal time to adopt simple water-saving habits that benefit nature and help to reduce your household bills. With each person using around 153 litres daily, small changes can make a big difference. Visit www.getwaterfit.com to get started and discover ways where you can cut back to help make every drop count and receive water saving items to help reduce waste around the home and garden.” 

Key 2026 Water Saving Week Actions:

• Fix Leaks: Use the week to check for leaks, which is a major source of wasted water.
• Download Resources: NI Water offers downloadable resources for homes and businesses, including ways to make your own mini waterbutt.
• Appliance Efficiency: Run washing machines and dishwashers only when full and use eco-settings.
• Water-Saving Tools: Use efficient shower timers, toothy timers and leaky loo strips to reduce water waste.

Ends

Caption for photo:
NI Water education officer Anna Killen recently visited Brooklands Youth Centre in Dundonald to talk to the young people and their leaders about ways to be water efficient, including using a waterbutt to harvest water for outdoors use and always using a watering can instead of a hosepipe.

Notes to editors:

• The Household Water Usage factsheet 2024/25 is a report produced by the Analysis, Statistics and Research Branch (ASRB) of the Department for Infrastructure (DfI), and presents findings from the 2024/25 Continuous Household Survey (CHS). The publication is available on the Water Usage Research webpage.
• NI Water offers a free online water audit tool via www.getwaterfit.co.uk to help households understand their water usage habits better. It offers personalised feedback on how to save water along with some water saving challenges you can take at home, as well as offering free NI Water water saving items including shower timers, toothy timer and loo strips.
• NI Water has a Water Resource Plan https://www.niwater.com/managing-northern-irelands-water-resources/ showing how it will manage and develop water resources to make sure there is enough water to meet future supply needs. This also sets out how NI Water will maintain water supplies during critical periods such as severe winters and droughts and having a plan for drought.

Media enquiries to the NI Water Press Office via email to press.office@niwater.com