Almost one in five customers found a hidden loo leak after the campaign prompt 

A campaign encouraging people across Cambridgeshire to check their toilets for hidden leaks is already making a difference, with a recent survey showing that just under one in five people who found a leak were prompted to check by Cambridge Water's Yes We Cam: Check Our Loos campaign.

The campaign, launched in May, asked customers to make one simple change by checking their toilet for leaks at the start of every month, helping to save water, cut bills and protect the region's precious chalk streams.

Emerging mid-campaign survey results suggest the message is leading to real action. 16% of respondents said the campaign prompted them to check their loo and they subsequently discovered a leak. A further 3% said the campaign encouraged them to check, even though they did not find a leak.

The findings also reveal that hidden loo leaks remain a common issue in households. Among those who had checked their toilets, almost 15% found a leak running down the back of the bowl – the type of hidden leak highlighted by the campaign.

Encouragingly, action is being taken when leaks are found. More than half (58%) of those who discovered a leak said it had been repaired by a professional tradesperson, while a third (33%) fixed the issue themselves and found it easy to do.

The research also found that checking for leaks is becoming a more regular habit, with over 62% of respondents having checked their toilets within the last month and more than a third (35%) doing so within the last week.  

Natalie Akroyd, Director of Quality and Environment at Cambridge Water, said: 

"When we launched Yes We Cam: Check Our Loos, we knew that many customers would be surprised to discover how common hidden toilet leaks can be. 

"It's fantastic to see that the campaign is already encouraging people to take a few minutes to check their loo, and that those checks are leading to leaks being found and fixed. 

"Every leak repaired means less treated drinking water being wasted, lower bills for many customers and less pressure on the aquifers and chalk streams that make Cambridgeshire so special. It shows how one small action, repeated across thousands of homes, can have a really positive impact."

Cambridgeshire is classed as a water-stressed region and all drinking water comes from underground aquifers that also support globally rare chalk streams. Alongside the recent introduction of a temporary hosepipe ban by the company, reducing unnecessary water use remains more important than ever.

Customers can still take part by carrying out a simple loo leak check: