Residents in Portsmouth, Hampshire, are being asked to help researchers find ways to save water as the city currently uses more than anywhere else in the UK. On 23 March 2026, the University of Portsmouth and Portsmouth Water launched a new study to understand why local water usage remains so high. People living in the area currently use about 160 litres of water each day, which is well above the national average of 142 litres.
A report from the University of Surrey shows that simply telling people to save water is not enough to change automatic habits like showering, flushing toilets, and fixing leaks. According to the Environment Agency, England could face a shortfall of five billion litres of water every day by 2055 if changes are not made. The local water company hopes to reduce household use to 119 litres per person by 2050 to help close this gap.
Researcher Touriya Ghadbar is leading the project and is looking for volunteers aged 18 and over to complete a five-minute online survey about their daily routines. Some participants may also be invited to take part in interviews or small group discussions to talk about how they use water at home. The study will help experts create better ways to communicate with residents about saving water in their kitchens and bathrooms.
Portsmouth Water is also working to cut down on waste by using technology like satellite tracking and specially trained leak detection dogs to find burst pipes. In 2025, the company fixed more than 4,000 leaks across the region as part of its largest-ever investment programme. These efforts are also intended to protect local nature sites, such as rare chalk streams, by finding more sustainable ways to manage the local water supply.
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