South West Water’s Save Every Drop campaign offers a range of free water-saving devices to customers and businesses across its service area. The initiative aims to help reduce daily water demand, lower bills for metered customers, and protect the region’s water supplies and environment. Through this programme, eligible individuals can claim items such as shower regulators and timers, bufaloo strips, leaky loo detectors, and water butts. The water company has reported distributing over 100,000 free water-saving devices, including more than 25,000 water butts in 100-litre and 200-litre capacities.
The programme is part of South West Water’s broader efforts to manage water resources, particularly in response to lower-than-average rainfall and extended hosepipe bans in parts of Devon and Cornwall. The company encourages customers, businesses, and visitors to reduce non-essential water usage. The free devices are designed to facilitate simple, everyday changes that can have a significant impact on water conservation. For example, the water butts provided are capable of storing over 3.8 million litres of water when full, offering an alternative to using a hosepipe for garden watering.
Available Free Water-Saving Devices
According to the source material, South West Water provides the following free devices through its Save Every Drop campaign:
- Shower regulators and timers
- Bufaloo strips
- Leaky loo detectors
- Water butts (available in 100-litre and 200-litre capacities)
The company has distributed over 100,000 of these devices to date, with a specific focus on providing over 25,000 water butts to help customers water gardens without using a hosepipe.
How to Access Free Water-Saving Devices
The process for obtaining free water-saving devices is straightforward. Residents and businesses within South West Water’s service area can visit the official campaign website to find top tips on saving water and to place an order for the free devices.
To order free water-saving devices, visit: www.southwestwater.co.uk/services/save-water
This online portal is the primary and official channel for accessing the free devices offered under the Save Every Drop campaign.
Eligibility and Geographic Restrictions
The source material indicates that the free water-saving devices are available to "customers and businesses" in the region served by South West Water. Specific eligibility criteria, such as whether a customer must be on a water meter or have a particular account type, are not detailed in the provided chunks. However, the campaign is explicitly aimed at helping those in the South West region, with particular mentions of Cornwall and Devon.
The programme is part of a regional effort to protect water supplies following challenging weather conditions. The company has extended a hosepipe ban to other parts of Devon, having already implemented restrictions in Cornwall and parts of North Devon. This context suggests the free devices are particularly targeted at customers in these affected areas, though the general offer appears to be available across South West Water’s wider service area.
Additional Free Services: Leak Detection and Repair
Beyond the distribution of water-saving devices, South West Water offers another free service to help conserve water: leak detection and repair on private supplies. The company notes that around 30 per cent of reported leaks in the region occur on private supplies. In response, South West Water assists customers and businesses in detecting leaks on their property and will fix them free of charge. This service is an important component of the company’s overall water conservation strategy, addressing a significant source of water loss.
The Context of Water Conservation in the South West
The free device programme operates within a broader context of water resource management in the South West. The region has experienced lower than average levels of rainfall, leading to the extension of a hosepipe ban. South West Water’s chief customer and digital officer, Laura Flowerdew, emphasised the need to protect water resources. The company’s actions, including the free device distribution and leak repair service, are framed as part of a collective effort involving customers, businesses, and visitors to reduce non-essential water usage.
The Save Every Drop campaign highlights that ordinary steps, such as using the provided devices, can have an extraordinary impact. The benefits are twofold: reducing daily demand to protect the environment and cutting bills for customers on a water meter. The campaign encourages people to recognise their role in protecting the region’s water supplies and the beautiful environment.
Conclusion
South West Water’s Save Every Drop campaign provides a practical and free resource for UK consumers in the South West to reduce their water consumption. The programme offers a selection of water-saving devices, including shower timers, leak detectors, and water butts, which can be ordered directly through the company’s official website. While the primary focus is on customers and businesses within South West Water’s service area, particularly those in regions affected by water scarcity and hosepipe bans, the initiative represents a significant corporate effort to promote conservation. The additional free service of detecting and fixing leaks on private supplies further supports this goal. For residents and businesses in the South West looking to lower their water usage and potentially reduce their bills, the free devices available through this programme offer a tangible and accessible starting point.