Household tips to save water amid scorching temperatures

The weather this week will make anyone want to get their paddling pools, sprinklers and slip 'n slides out, and why not when its nearly 40 degrees celsius.

Water companies are now asking people to be mindful of how much water they use to keep cool, as there are worries that the current extreme heat could lead to a drought, especially as there is not much rainfall forecasted for the rest of this week and into next week.

Stats from Water's Worth Saving reveal 20% of a typical heating bill for a gas heated home comes from the water for showers, baths and the hot water tap. In general households use a lot more water than what is thought, a two-minute shower uses a whopping 20litres of water.

There are plenty of ways to still use water, whilst making it last a lot longer - and as a plus it could save you money in the long run.

Waterbutts are a great way to collect rainwater to use on your houseplants, or to water your whole garden. The mini water tanks connect to your gutter and normally come with a connection tap to fit watering cans and a stand.

Some utility companies offer products like WaterButs for a subsidised price, if yours doesn't they are currently 10% off at Argos at £32.

Gardeners could also use greywater from their kitchen to water their plants - greywater can be any water used in a home, apart from toilets. It's a tip many probably haven't thought of trying before, but why not save the pan of water the next time you boil pasta or potatoes and pour it back into your garden once its cooled down.

The difference between conserving water when watering your garden and wasting water can be a matter of a few minutes apart- which is why timings are important.

Water companies including Severn Trent and United