Waterfall - Saving Water Podcast

In this special wrap-up episode of Waterfall, Mike Keil is joined by CCW’s Catherine Jones to look back on Season 5 and put their guests’ water-saving claims to the test. From academics and campaigners to water industry experts, they rank the season’s guests by their actual daily water use, revealing who really walks the walk when it comes to saving water. Along the way, they revisit standout moments from the series, share personal water-saving confessions, and show that cutting water use doesn’t require big lifestyle changes - just small, achievable tweaks that add up.

Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome and overview
01:00 – Measuring water use
02:25 – Guests and water awareness
08:00 – Mid-table rankings
15:00 – Top 10 water savers
22:35 – Top 5 revealed
28:35 – Season’s top saver
29:35 – Mike and Cath’s water use
33:45 – Season 5 highlights
35:35 – Final thoughts and resources

In this milestone 100th episode of Waterfall, , Mike is joined by Professor Maja Kutlaca from Durham University to explore why recycling has become part of everyday life while saving water still lags behind. Drawing on her research in social psychology, Maja explains how visibility, social norms and trusted messengers shape our behaviour, and why water saving often feels less urgent or personal. Together, they discuss how better communication, community leadership and simple tools like water meters could help make water conservation a normal, everyday habit.

Timestamps
00:00 – Introductions
01:00 – Recycling and water saving
03:13 – Why water saving is less visible
05:41 – Emotion and motivation
08:48 – Public trust and water saving
13:21 – Who should deliver messages
17:32 – Social pressure and habits
29:18 – Closing thoughts

Most football fans don’t realise just how many millions of litres of water are needed to keep pitches in top condition each season. In this episode, Mike chats with Jack Shuttleworth, founder of sustainable drainage company FORMA, to explore how cutting-edge systems at Everton and Hednesford Town are helping tackle water scarcity, flooding and pollution.   

Time stamps

00:00 – Introduction

02:00 – What is Formavoid and what inspired it?

03:40 – Replacing deep storm tanks

07:01 – Ventilation

11:41 – How rainwater harvesting works

14:06 – Monitoring water quality and nitrates

17:34 – Water and cost savings

23:15 – Sustainability

28:13 – Grassroots application

38:35 – Closing thoughts

 

Show notes 

Inside Keys Park | A pitch special 

Non-League. World-Class. Hednesford Town FC Unveils Next-Generation Pitch Technology - Hednesford Town FC  

Innovation in attenuation – ready for take-off - Government & Public Sector Journal  

Water meter calculator - CCW

In this episode of Waterfall, Mike is joined by Professor Benjamin Gardner from the University of Surrey to explore how smart shower technology is reshaping our understanding of everyday water use. Ben shares insights from a major research project that used sensor-based timers in student accommodation to track shower habits, reveal what drives long showers, and show how simple feedback can cut shower times by up to 43 percent. Together, they uncover how small nudges, smarter tech, and better awareness can help us save water, energy, and money without compromising comfort.

Timestamps

00:00 – Introductions and smart showers explained
01:03 – How smart shower sensors work
03:29 – The Surrey study and the impact of timers
06:06 – Why real-time feedback beats egg timers
09:15 – What the data reveals about shower habits
15:22 – Key findings, surprises, and future research
25:56 – Closing thoughts and personal water use

Show notes

Water meter calculator - CCW

In this episode of Waterfall, Cath is joined by Andrew Laughlin from Which? to uncover the truth about water-efficient appliances. They explore how to use washing machines and dishwashers smartly, what eco modes really do, and how to make sense of energy labels and ratings. From busting common myths to sharing expert insights on saving water, energy, and money, this episode is packed with practical tips to help you make greener choices without compromising on cleaning power.

 

Timestamps

00:00 Introductions and episode overview

01:25 Using appliances efficiently

03:46 Eco modes and real savings

06:24 Energy labels and choosing wisely

09:45 Washing at lower temperatures

13:08 Dishwasher vs handwashing

16:27 Common appliance myths

20:07 Reliable machines and final tips