Eco-Friendly Plumbing in Paris: Cut Your Water Use

To reduce your water consumption, start by tracking down leaks (a dripping tap, a running toilet, a hidden leak), then fit aerators on the taps, a low-flow shower head and a dual flush on the toilet. Set and maintain the water heater properly, and change a few habits. Most of these steps are simple and inexpensive.

Is your water bill rising for no reason, in Paris or the inner suburbs? Call +33 1 89 70 15 36 (01 89 70 15 36 from a French phone), 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, or write to us through the contact page or WhatsApp. Many of our plumbers speak English. Our everyday plumbing service fits water-saving equipment and repairs leaks.

Saving water lowers your bill, and it also eases pressure on the resource: Paris is supplied by Eau de Paris, the city's public water utility, from the Seine and groundwater, and droughts are becoming more frequent. Here, in order, is what makes the biggest difference in a flat.

1. Fix leaks first

A leak, however small, runs day and night. It is the main source of waste and of abnormal bills.

The signs:

• the meter moves while every tap is off;
• a damp patch on a wall, ceiling or floor;
• a faint but constant sound of running water;
• a toilet that keeps trickling into the bowl;
• a bill that rises with no change in your habits.

The meter test: turn off every tap, read the meter, use no water for an hour or two, then read it again. If it has moved, there is a leak. Our article on leaks before or after the water meter explains who pays for what.

Hidden leaks, inside a wall or under a floor, need equipment: thermal imaging, acoustic detection, tracer gas. Our guide to detecting an invisible water leak explains the methods, and our leak detection service uses them without needless damage.

2. Fit water-saving equipment

The best value steps, and most take minutes to fit.

• Aerators on the taps: they mix air into the water and reduce the flow without losing comfort.
• A low-flow shower head: it limits the flow while keeping a pleasant shower. The shower is one of the biggest water uses in a home.
• A thermostatic mixer: the right temperature arrives straight away, with no water wasted while you wait.
• A dual flush toilet: a small or full flush as needed. On an old toilet, replacing the flush mechanism is sometimes enough, without changing the bowl.
• Taps with a flow limiter when you replace a mixer.
• Sensor flushes or taps for shared use (offices, short-term lets), which prevent taps left running.

A tenant can fit removable items such as aerators and a shower head alone. For a fixed replacement, the landlord's agreement is needed.

3. Control hot water

Heating water uses energy, so saving hot water counts twice.

• Insulate hot water pipes that run through unheated rooms or false ceilings.
• Set the water heater correctly and have it serviced. Paris water is hard, and a scaled-up unit heats less well and uses more energy.
• Consider a heat pump water heater when you replace yours, if you have a large enough ventilated space or an outdoor spot. Grants may be available under conditions, with an RGE-labelled installer for that work.

Our guide to electric water heater installation lists ways to cut your hot water bill.

4. Change a few habits

• Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or shaving.
• Prefer a shower to a bath, and keep it short.
• Run the washing machine and dishwasher full, and use the dishwasher rather than washing up under a running tap.
• Collect the cold water that runs while you wait for hot water, and use it for plants.
• Wash fruit and vegetables in a bowl rather than under the tap.

5. Collect rainwater

If you have a terrace, garden or courtyard, a rainwater butt covers watering and outdoor cleaning. In a co-ownership building, a butt connected to a shared downpipe needs the approval of the building's property manager (the syndic).

6. Maintain the installation

A well-maintained installation wastes less:

• descale aerators and shower heads;
• check seals and joints every year;
• inspect flexible hoses and traps in the kitchen and bathroom;
• have the pressure checked: too high, it wears seals and causes leaks;
• replace very old pipes when you renovate.

7. Track your consumption

Read your meter regularly, or use your water supplier's online tracking if your meter allows it. An unexplained spike is often the first sign of a leak.

Ask a plumber for a check-up

Some losses are hard to spot alone. A plumber can check your installation and find:

• hidden leaks in walls or floors;
• wasteful fittings;
• badly set water heaters;
• pressure or temperature losses.

They then fit the water-saving equipment that suits your home. For a rough idea, see our prices.

FAQ

Can water-saving equipment be fitted in any Paris apartment?

Yes for aerators, shower heads, taps and flush mechanisms. A heat pump water heater needs a large enough ventilated space or an outdoor spot, which is not always possible in a flat.

Can a tenant install water-saving equipment?

Yes for removable items (aerators, shower head). For a fixed replacement, ask the landlord.

How do I know if I have a leak?

Turn off every tap and read the meter an hour or two apart without using any water. If it has moved, there is a leak to trace.

Does a running toilet waste much water?

Yes, because it runs all the time, often silently. Put a few drops of food colouring in the cistern: if the colour appears in the bowl without flushing, the mechanism is leaking.

Get your installation checked

Réseau Tubulure works in Paris and the inner suburbs (92, 93, 94), 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, to repair leaks, fit water-saving equipment and check your installation. Many of our plumbers speak English.

• Phone: +33 1 89 70 15 36 (01 89 70 15 36 from a French phone)
• Form: contact us
• WhatsApp: from the button on the site

See our everyday plumbing service.