Hard-up Brits are trying to save themselves money on their water bills by popping a brick in the cistern to reduce the amount of water wasted on a flush
People are trying to cut back on water by popping bizarre items in the cistern (stock)(Image: Getty Images)
Brits are putting bricks in their toilets to save on their water bills, a new study shows. Nearly a fifth of respondents – some 16% – have stuck a lump of masonry in their cistern.
This reduces the amount of water needed to flush and saves two pints every time you pull the chain, saving water and money but also helping to combat climate change. But experts urged folk to use purpose-made devices rather than a traditional building block for the job.
The Reclaimed Brick Company said: “It’s understandable that people want to save water. “But putting an ordinary brick in a toilet cistern can lead to serious damage over time.
Brits are putting full blown bricks into their toilets as a way to save money on their bills (stock)(Image: Getty Images)
“Traditional bricks are porous – they absorb water, begin to crumble and can release small fragments that block or damage the flushing mechanism.” The firm added: “If you really want to save water, opt for a purpose-made displacement device or a dual-flush system instead.
“It’s a much safer and more effective solution in the long-run.” Elsewhere, clean energy company Egg found three quarters of Scots took showers instead of baths to save on bills.
While a similar number of folk from Glasgow limit the temperature at which they wash clothes to 30°C. Half of Liverpudlians do the washing-up by hand, rather than use the dishwasher, while three quarters of Norwich locals use an air fryer instead of a traditional oven.
Water saving charities have urged people to use purpose-made equipment to help save money (stock)(Image: Getty Images)
And half of households in Sheffield have installed smart meters in a bid to slash energy bills. Nearly half of homes in Oxford have double-glazed windows to be more energy efficient.
And around three in 10 Bristolians now grow their own veg to help keep grocery bills down. It all comes as the country continues to struggle to pay the bills as the cost of living crisis continues to hit Brits hard.
Figures from Citizens Advice released last month found that over a fifth of people are falling into debt with their supplier as a result of rising prices. It added that over two in five Brits are struggling to keep up with the pace of their bills, having to make tough cutbacks on the groceries they buy as a result.
It comes as the cost in paying for water continues to rise across the country (stock)(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
The survey also found that in a bid to reduce the amount of water being used, many are resorting to drastic measures to keep bills low. This can include rationing water, restricting the number of showers, baths and washes for clothes that they may usually have.
The move came after water suppliers were officially fined by the government for their inability to look after the environment, causing sewage to spill out and causing untold damage to natural habitats. This also means that costs for customers will go up as many water companies struggle to pay the huge financial sanctions on their own terms.
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