In our poll on water, you told us that you need more information on water saving products – one third of you feel that you aren’t able to save more water because you don’t know which products or appliances to buy.

There are hundreds of devices on the market so Global Action Plan staff and willing participants have reviewed a few of them to help you decide what to go for. 

 Basic egg timer

The egg shower timer was very simple and straight forward to use. You only had to stick it onto a wall tile and flip it over to start the four minute countdown. The outside of the timer is made of clear plastic which did tend to cloud over but the blue grains made it easy to tell whether you still had time available. I was very careful with the timer however the plastic did crack slightly which makes me think it may not be particularly resistant. It is also easy for kids to pull off the wall and put in their mouths. Finally the length of time is fixed at four minutes which is a limitation if you are trying to gradually reduce the time you spend in the shower but, on the upside, this means you are more likely to be strict with yourself and only stay in for four minutes.

Digital duck timer
The digital duck timer is a fantastic, fun device and would be visually appealing to young children. Again, the timer is very easy to use and it is possible to adjust the length of the countdown. It also has a clock which could useful. On the downside the device runs on batteries. It just needs to be stuck onto a tile and the instructions to set it up are very simple. As a girl, four minutes was not enough time to wash my hair, however on days where I didn’t wash my hair it was very easy to stick to.

All in all I preferred the traditional grain shower timer. I don’t think it is necessary to have an electrical shower timer. I would keep the device as it is a visual trigger to be mindful of the length of time I am in the shower and the energy and water that could be wasted.

Reviewed by Heather Poore.

Shower head
I thought that the pressure would be substandard on a water-saving shower head, but it wasn't at all. The device was very easy to fit - it just screws on. I was very pleased with it because it has more pressure than my old shower head and I will certainly keep it. The shape of the head meant that the water fell in a lot more concentrated way meaning that I could position the head where I wanted it without worrying about water spilling on the floor.

For those with just a basic shower head, this is a perfect replacement with no real noticeable difference in quality. However it only has one setting so those that like a multi setting device will be disappointed. For people looking for a basic shower head that provides a slightly more pressured flow whilst using less water, I would highly recommend it. My tip for getting in and out of the shower in four minutes is to just get on and do what you need to do.

Reviewed by James Alexander. Shower timers and showerhead provided by Aqualogic.

Swivel tap aerator
I ordered a free swivel tap aerator from Thames Water for my kitchen sink tap. It arrived within days in a small plastic pouch with several different tap heads alongside. As a DIY-phobe, I was worried that it was not what I was expecting.  I could see that the aerator was there, I just wasn't sure what to do with the other pieces.

Once I read the instructions, I could see that the other pieces were different-sized fittings for different-sized taps, and I would have to test each one to find the right one for my faucet.  I had a real moment of frustration when I had tried all the fittings but one. The penultimate fitting in the bag seemed to fit exactly right, but then leaked when I turned the water on. I was ready to give up in total despair when I tried the very last fixture, and as if by magic, it screwed on perfectly. The aerator then screwed easily inside the fitting.

It is a nice little home improvement that allows the water to come out as both a stream and a spray, which is great for washing dishes.  I highly recommend the swivel tap aerator, which was free to order and only took about ten minutes or so to install.

Reviewed by Stephanie Walker.

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