United Utilities, based in Great Sankey, Warrington, is promoting the use of water butts as a simple and effective way to conserve water.
The company says using water butts helps reduce demand on mains supplies, particularly during dry weather.
Katy Bevan, from United Utilities’ rainwater management team, said: “A typical house roof gathers around 30,000 litres of rainwater every year – that’s equivalent to 300 bathtubs of water.
“A water butt is a great way to stop that from running away down the drain and collect it for use in the garden.
“As well as saving users money, rainwater is known to be the best option for plant growth and nourishment.”
Over the past two years, United Utilities has distributed more than 1,600 water butts to customers, community groups, schools, and allotments across the North West to promote water efficiency.
Collectively, these water butts can store more than 344,000 litres of rainwater at any one time.
The company estimates that using a hosepipe consumes around 1,000 litres of water per hour, costing nearly £5 for every hour of use.
The reminder comes at a time of ongoing low rainfall, which has left regional reservoir levels at just 62.6 percent—down from over 90 percent this time last year.
Ms Bevan said: “With periods of intermittent rain upon us, now really is the perfect time to install a water butt to collect and store a supply of lovely, free rainwater ready to use when the weather turns dry again.”
Water butts also help divert rainwater away from the sewer system, reducing the risk of surface water flooding during heavy downpours.
United Utilities has supplied water butts to a range of communities and organisations.
In Cheshire’s Nether Peover, more than 40 households received dual-use water butts with a total capacity of over 7,000 litres.
United Utilities offers additional water-saving advice and discounted water butts through its website.