Water Saving Ideas

A dripping cold water tap or an unexpected leak on the property can lose thousands of litres of water over a three-month period not only wasting water but adding unnecessary cost to your account. 

The following is an approximate guide on how much water is used on average by dripping taps and leaks around the home:

• Slow dripping tap can waste up to 30 litres of water per day which is around 2,700 litres (2.7kL) of water per quarter.
• Fast dripping tap or leaky cistern can waste up to 316 litres of water per day, around 28,000 litres (28kL) per quarter.
• Flow (small leak eg pin hole leak) can waste up to 2,800 litres of water per day which is around 252,000 litres (252kL) of water per quarter.
• Full flow (equivalent to a tap turned on full) can waste up to 20 litres per minute which is around 28,000 litres (28kL) of water per day. This amount of water if left unattended could end up being around 2,592,000 litres of water charged to the account for the quarter which could end up costing thousands of unexpected dollars.

Check for Leaks Regularly

By checking for leaks regularly you can avoid the nasty surprise of a huge water bill. The way we recommend you check for leaks is to read your water meter. You can easily do this by taking a reading before you go out then taking another reading when you get home. If the meter has ticked over you may have a leak. You can find out how to read your water meter by going to our page on Water Meters. 

What if I have a leak? 

If you discover you have a leak call a plumber immediately to help you detect were the leak may be. 

Going away on holidays?

If you are going away or not regularly at your property turn the water meter off before you leave to prevent unintended water usage.

Water leakage and dampness can attract termites

Some hot water systems, including solar panels, air conditioning units, reverse cycle systems and pool solar heating have pressure relief valves and overflow outlets which release water. This water should be diverted away from the house to avoid damage; consider re-using this water on gardens or lawns to keep them healthy.

Saving water in the garden is easy, here are a few ideas:

Natures Best

• Watch the weather forecast, if rain is coming you won’t need to water the garden.
• Install a rainwater tank for garden use.

Paths & Driveways

• Use a broom, rake or outdoor blower to clean paths and driveways.
• A pressure washer is more efficient in saving water than a garden hose, they have 10-50% more pressure and use up to 80% less water.

Taps, Hose Connections & Sprinklers

• Make sure taps and hose fittings are not leaking, a dripping tap can waste more than 2000 litres a month.
• A forgotten sprinkler can waste thousands of litres of water, install a timer to prevent wastage.
• When watering the garden use a trigger nozzle hand held hose and only water were required.

Garden Watering

• Water your garden in the early morning or late afternoon to avoid water evaporation.
• Don't water when it is windy.

Plants & Mulch

• Choose the right plants, there are many water wise varieties available which require much less maintenance and watering.
• Mulching the garden is a great way to reduce evaporation and water run-off. Good quality mulch will also provide nutrients and reduce weed growth.

Cars & Boats

• Wash your car or boat on the lawn and water the grass at the same time.

Kitchens account for up to 20% of your indoor water usage, here are a few ideas to help save water:

At the Sink

• Install an efficient low-flow tap, aerator or a water flow-reducer attachment on your tap and this will help reduce water usage.
• Always turn taps off so they do not drip.

Washing Dishes

• When hand-washing dishes, never run water continuously.
• When using a dishwasher only wash full loads, and use the shortest cycle possible. Many dishwashers have a water conservation cycle.

Food Preparation 

When cleaning fruit and vegetables, wash them in a partially filled sink and then rinse them quickly under the tap.

Drinking Water

• Keep a bottle of chilled drinking water in your refrigerator instead of running your tap until the water gets cool each time you want some water.

Re-purpose Water 

• Run cold water into a bucket for re-use on the garden before the hot water starts to flow. 

There are plenty of ways to save water in the bathroom, here are a few ideas:

Showers

• Try and encourage the family to take short 4 minute showers. 
• Short showers use less water than baths, but if you still prefer bathing, avoid overfilling the bath.
• Capture shower water in a bucket while you are waiting for the hot water to heat up, your plants will love it.

Toilets

• Upgrade old toilets and install a modern dual flush cisterns.
• Check regularly for toilet leaks, try putting a small amount of food colouring into the tank and observing whether it seeps to the bowl without flushing.

Shaving

• When shaving, partially fill the sink and use that water rather than running the tap continuously use short bursts of water to clean razors.

Brushing your Teeth

• Turn the tap off when brushing your teeth and only turn the tap on to rinse or clean the brush.

Taps

• Use aerators and/or water flow-reducer devices on all your taps.

Here are some helpful ways to save water in the laundry:

Washing Machines

• Wash only full loads in your washing machine.
• Use the shortest cycle possible for washing clothes, and use the "suds-saver" feature if your machine has one.
• If your washer has an adjustable water-level indicator, set the dial to use only as much water as is really necessary.

Re-purpose Water

• Use environmentally friendly washing products that can be captured and re-used on the garden.
• Install a greywater system to capture your used washing water to re-use on your garden.