Five ways to be winter wise

When the weather is cold and dreary, it can feel like there’s no need to worry about saving water. After all, it’s common sense that it’s warm, sunny days that can lead to water reserves drying up.

But come rain or shine, water is a precious resource we need to take care of. After an exceptionally dry 2025, this winter is the ideal time to help refill our reservoirs.

"People think of Scotland as being a wet, rainy country with water in abundance, but as this last year has shown, this is not always true,” says Brian McCarthy, economic demand manager at Scottish Water.

“Especially in the East of Scotland, where reservoir levels have been low most of the year. That's why we are encouraging people to think about their water use, even in winter, because water is always worth saving.”

Being winter-wise when it comes to water means saving money and energy, all while protecting your home and keeping you and your family warm.

Make these small changes to your everyday habits and you’ll be doing your bit to keep supplies steady, helping the planet – and your wallet – in the process.

It’s not just our toes that need to be wrapped up warm throughout the winter – the cold can make your pipes freeze, crack or even burst. So it’s important to take a moment to make sure they’re properly insulated.

Whether they’re metal or plastic, or located inside or out, pipes need to be protected from the cold with suitable insulation material.

If you’re not sure yours are up to scratch, a qualified plumber or DIY store should be able to offer the right advice. Now’s also a good time to make sure you know where your stop valve is, just in case a pipe does burst.

There are plenty of simple steps you can take to reduce the amount of water you use