Saving Water

The Problem

The Thirsty Environment

All life requires water, so when we take water out of natural ecosystems and use it for urban or agricultural use, we take water from the environment. Reduced ‘environmental flows’ can have significant impacts on the delicate ecosystems that support life.

The Solution

Water Saving At Home

Saving water at home is easy and in the long term can save you thousands of dollars.

Another important way to save water is to stop leaks at soon as they appear − a leaking tap can use as much as 2,000 litres a month. 

Most taps dispense more water than you need, so installing aerators will also help.

In The Bathroom

The shower is usually the largest consumer of water in any household. Installing a water-saving showerhead and a timer in your shower can dramatically reduce your water use.

Second to the shower is the toilet as a big consumer of water in the household. Installing a dual flush toilet can save you thousands of litres per year. If this is too expensive you may want to consider putting a brick or in your toilet cistern to reduce the flush volume.

Old fashioned toilets may use as much as 12 litres per flush, while new dual flush toilet can use as little as 6 litres for a full flush and 3 litre for a half.

Did you know?

• An old-style single-flush toilet uses up to 12 litres of water per flush, while a standard dual flush toilet uses just a quarter of this on a half-flush.
• A standard showerhead may use up to 25 litres of water per minute whereas water-efficient showerhead might use as little as seven litres per minute.
• A leaking toilet can waste more than 16,000 litres of water a year.
• The bathroom accounts for around half of all water used inside the home.

In The Kitchen

The key culprit for water consumption in kitchens is the dishwasher. However, not all dishwashers are equal − some are markedly more water efficient that others.

In The Laundry

Set your washing machine to an appropriate water level when washing clothes. You can also save energy by washing in cold water. Front loading washing machines use considerably less water than top loaders, and also require less energy and soap to do the same job. While the investment may be higher to begin with − in the long term they will save you money.