Good Homes Alliance is part of the 50L Home England Pilot, one of seven projects recently awarded funding through Ofwat’s first Water Efficiency Lab competition. The pilot, led by Northumbrian Water and delivered in partnership with Waterwise and a wide range of organisations from across the housing, water, manufacturing and research sectors, aims to demonstrate how whole-home water efficiency can be made effortless and attractive for households.
Ofwat’s Water Efficiency Lab is awarding £25 million over four years to innovative solutions that help people and businesses take control of their water use, making saving water effortless. In its first year (WEL 1), the Water Efficiency Lab is funding solutions that provide tailored, data-led and actionable insights to customers.
In England, we are using water faster than nature can replace, and in Wales the changing climate is putting pressure on water supply. While both countries are known for their rainfall, climate change is bringing the risk of warmer, drier summers and wetter winters, which affects how much water is reliably available for homes, businesses, and the natural environment.
If nothing changes, England alone faces a shortfall of 5 billion litres a day by 2055, the equivalent to 25 million people leaving the tap running for 20 minutes every single day. Fixing leaks and upgrading infrastructure is well underway, but how we use water every day really matters. Simple changes made at home and work by everyone add up to make a big difference.
£1.5 million has been awarded to the 50L Home England Pilot, led by Northumbrian Water in partnership with Electrolux, Barratt Redrow, IKEA, Groundwork, P&G, Waterwise, University of Surrey, World Business Council for Sustainable Development, World Economic Forum and others.
This pilot brings together innovative appliances, fixtures and everyday products, including dishwashers that remove the need to pre-rinse, washing machines that clean effectively in cold water, and high-pressure low-flow showers, and trials them in existing and new UK homes alongside behavioural science and data-driven insights. By engineering water efficiency into the products people already use, the project aims to show that household water demand can be reduced by 30 to 40 per cent while improving quality of life and cutting bills.
The project will trial innovative products, appliances and approaches that help reduce household water use without compromising comfort or convenience, supporting the vision that “50 litres feels like 500 litres”. GHA will contribute its expertise in water efficiency and water reuse in housing, helping ensure that water-saving design becomes what makes a good home.
This builds on GHA’s ongoing work in this area, including the publication of the Water Efficiency and Reuse in Housing Design Guide for a Changing Climate in 2025.