When it comes to people complaining about the prices of utilities, it’s always gas and electricity that are flagged up as being hugely expensive with seemingly constantly rising prices. And while this may be true, another utility, water, has a much easier ride from consumers.

This may be because we have no choice when it comes to water suppliers, but that shouldn’t mask the fact that this year water bills are set to rise by up to 8.8%, and that in 2011 the number of people who called looking for help with their water bill rose by 30%.

On top the financial benefits, there’s also the environment to consider. The Environment Agency declared a drought in East Anglia in June, last year, and we all need to be thinking about ways to conserve water.

With that in mind, this week’s Your Money takes a look at how you can cut your use and your bill.

The most obvious way of doing so is to install a water meter. This means that you’ll only be charged for the water you actually use, rather than the amount the company thinks you’re using.

As a rule of thumb, if you have more bedrooms than people in the house, a water meter is a good option.

Ofwat believes that metering can reduce consumption by around 20 per cent, which is a substantial saving in anyone’s book.

Having installed a water meter, what else can you do?

Taking a shower rather than a bath will save hundreds of gallons of water over a year – unless it’s a power shower, in which case the savings are negligible. Equally, putting a brick in your loo cistern will reduce the water used in each flush by up to three litres. For a slightly more upmarket version of the brick, you can get a Hippo free of charge from Cambridge Water Company or Anglian Water. 

Both companies also offer other free water saving devices, such as a shower flow regulator and tap inserts which are designed to reduce the flow from the taps.

Remember that shower flow regulators are not designed to be used with a power shower. You also need to read the small print to ensure you’re not invalidating the warranty.

This might sound a little obvious, but turn off the taps! Not running the water while you’re cleaning your teeth will save around six litres of water a minute. By the same token, repair ones that are leaking or dripping.

When washing clothes, always make sure you have a full load rather than being tempted to wash with the machine half empty. If you only have one item to get clean, do it by hand.

Dishwashers are much more energy-efficient than they used to be, both in terms of the electricity and water they use. Again, always make sure you have a full load before you begin or, why not rediscover the joys of washing up by hand, which is much more energy-efficient.

A rainwater butt is an effective way of collecting and saving water which you can then use to water the garden or even clean the car.  Talking of the latter, try and use buckets and sponges rather than hoses when sluicing down your pride and joy.

Future proof your garden. Buy locally-grown plants that thrive in warmer climes and require less water. They can look just as fantastic as our thirstier plants and in years to come will help to reduce your water needs enormously.

And finally, think about what you drink outside the home. Do you really need bottled water or is it just an affectation? Fill a bottle with tap water before you go out.