South West Water is encouraging customers across the region to carry out a simple check at home to identify hidden toilet leaks which could be wasting thousands of litres of water every year.
Leaky loos are one of the most common sources of water loss in the home, yet they often go unnoticed. Many toilet leaks are silent, allowing water to continuously trickle into the pan without residents realising.
A single leaking toilet can waste up to 400 litres of water a day, making it one of the biggest sources of household water waste and an important focus for water conservation.
With half of England, including the South West, being declared in drought by the Environment Agency following months of record dry and hot weather, South West Water is supporting customers to use water wisely wherever possible.
So far in 2026, South West Water has identified and repaired 636 leaking toilets across the region.
These repairs are saving an estimated 159,000 litres of water every day, equivalent to around 58 million litres of water a year.
Check for hidden leaks in four easy steps
To help reduce water waste, South West Water is encouraging households to carry out a simple toilet roll test to check for hidden toilet leaks:
- Place a few sheets of dry toilet paper against the back of the toilet pan.
- Leave it for a few minutes without flushing.
- Check whether the paper has become wet.
- If it has, your toilet may have a hidden leak.
If a leak is identified, customers can access step-by-step advice on fixing common toilet leaks through South West Water's website.
Megan Williams, Water Efficiency Delivery Manager at South West Water, said:
"Many toilet leaks are completely silent, meaning customers can be wasting large amounts of water without realising it.
"A leaking toilet can waste hundreds of litres of water every day, so taking a few minutes to carry out this simple check can make a big difference.
"By spotting and fixing hidden leaks, customers can help save water, reduce unnecessary waste and play their part in protecting precious drinking water resources across the South West."
For more information on carrying out the toilet roll test and fixing a leaking toilet, visit www.southwestwater.co.uk/about-us/blogs/how-to-fix-a-leaky-loo
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