Water brings life, health and vitality to every aspect of our day-to-day lives, so treat this precious but taken-for-granted resource with respect and make the most of every drop

Summer is coming and it promises to be one of the hottest on record. As the temperature rises, so does our need for water. Yet blazing hot summers inevitably bring water scarcity, hosepipe bans and worries about whether there will be enough to go around.

Even when there is a plentiful supply of water, lots of energy is required to collect it, purify it and transport it to your taps. So if you save water, you are also saving energy and helping to reduce the carbon emissions that are driving up temperatures in the first place.

Here are 10 top tips for cutting your water use at home without sacrificing your quality of life:

1. Think toothbrush, think shower
You know that leaving the tap running while brushing your teeth is wasteful. But you can save much more water by treating your shower in the same way. Sometimes it's great to stand there and let the water pour over you but, if your morning shower is just a quick way of getting clean before the day gets going, you don't need to leave the water running the whole time.

Get in, get wet, then turn the tap off and lather up. Then turn on again for a final rinse. It's amazing how much water, hot water too, you can save doing this. If you are fitting a new shower, make sure the controls are very responsive to make this technique easier. Whatever you do, avoid power showers as these use more water than a bath.

2. Fine tune your flush
The simplest way to reduce the water you use when flushing is to fill a plastic water bottle and stick it on your toilet cistern. Make sure the bottle is not too big or you will end up flushing twice. Alternatively, fit an 'Interflush', a device that lets you control how much water you flush by stopping the flush as soon as you let go of the handle (see www.interflush.co.uk).

3. Boil with care
Kettles use more energy than any other household appliance, so the more care you take to boil only the amount you need, the more water and energy you will save. You don't have to be too meticulous. If you avoid filling the kettle all the way every time you will be making a difference.

4. Chill without a spill
On hot summer days the cold water from your taps can seem rather too warm, especially if the pipes are not insulated. It's tempting to leave the tap on until the water runs cold. Avoid this waste by always keeping a bottle of chilled water in the fridge.

5. Get more for less
Fit aerators to your taps to get a consistent, 'fluffier' flow for less water. Neoperl aerators with built-in flow regulators can be fitted on any tap with a screw thread at its outlet. Ask a local plumber for guidance.

6. Don't run half-empty
A washing machine with anything less than a full load is inefficient. If you are looking for a new washing machine, check the water consumption on the energy label. Avoid top-fill machines as these need lots of water to get everything wet.

7. Save the rain
The biggest stress on the water supply occurs in summer when everyone is using drinking water to nourish their gardens. You can avoid this by installing a water butt that collects rainwater from your roof. You can now buy these in many shapes and sizes, including discreet boxes for wall fixing and attractive terracotta pots (see www.crocus.co.uk).

8. Plant for drought
If you are planting a new garden, look for plants that are used to dry conditions. Many drought-tolerant flowers are attractive and brightly coloured, so you won't have to curtail your planting palette. Mulch your pots and flower beds to help them retain water.

9. Don't flood your fuschias
If you water your plants too much their roots will remain shallow and weaken the plant. Toughen them up by only watering when they really need it. Water in the mornings and evenings to avoid too much water lost through evaporation.

10. Make the savings real
All this water saving will make no difference to your bills if you do not have a water meter. If you get one installed, you will be able to monitor your water consumption and see how much you can cut it down, and then reap the financial reward. Phone your water company and ask for one. It will be installed in the street, under the pavement, not in your house.