Tower Hamlets residents spend almost £440 on water bills a year, new study reveals

A generic view of a household water tap as water and sewerage bills are to rise by around £20 from April, regulator Ofwat has said. PA Archive/PA Images

Tower Hamlets is one of the worst boroughs in London for wasting water, according to a new report on the affordability of fresh drinking water across the capital.

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New figures released by environmental consultants Save Water Save Money show that across the borough, residents are some of the worst in the capital at turning off their taps, spending an average of £434.59 on water each year.

That works out at £67.56 more expensive than the London-wide average spend of £367.03, and only slightly cheaper than residents in Westminster, who pay an astronomical £484.43.

Nearby neighbours Havering were actually the second savviest soakers in the entire city, spending just £282.33 a year on water bills.

Other east London boroughs did not fare so well.

Newham was second worst for water wastage behind Westminster, according to the figures, with its residents totting up an average water bill of £459.46.

Barking and Dagenham fared slightly better, but were still above the London average, spending £383.07.

The research also showed Barking and Dagenham top the city-wide shower tables, with an average of 10.6 showers per person per week, while Greenwich has the most baths with 3.6 per person per week on average.

Kingston, by comparison, has the fewest showers (7.1) and baths (1.8) on average per person per week.

Every day, Londoners use more than 3.6 billion litres of fresh drinking water – enough to fill 146 Olympic-sized swimming pools, or 46 million baths.

The average spend on energy and water bills every year is a staggering £1,500 – meaning more than £4.8billion is spent by Londoners on those utilities every twelve months.

Tim Robertson, CEO of Save Water Save Money, commented: “Londoners are wasting water and energy and it’s costing them and the environment.

“Our mission is to build awareness of water and energy efficiency in the UK, and help consumers make small changes that can have a profound impact on cutting down their bills, as well as benefiting the planet too.

“Londoners can take easy steps to reduce their utility usage, helping their pocket and the environment.”