Every year April 22nd is designated as Earth Day and water conservation is one of the key tenets of the programme.

The Earth might seem like it has abundant water, but in fact only one percent of all water on the planet is available for humans. Being water efficient leads naturally to a reduction in carbon, energy and utility costs. Pumping, treating and distributing water from reservoirs, rivers and groundwater produces approximately 50kg of CO2 per household per year - and a further 250kg of CO2 is produced when you heat water at home.

So our top tips for saving water are:

• Use a Save-a-Flush device for your toilet cistern (available free from water companies)
• Take shorter showers
• Collect rainwater in a water butt to use in the garden
• Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth
• Always use washing machines and dishwashers on a full load