Saving
Water Tips
Saving Water in The Home
Every day, there are many simple little things we can do around the house to save water, money and help the environment.
Take a look through the tips below for some clever shortcuts to savings.
- Checking for leaks in taps, pipes and dishwasher hoses is an easy way to reduce water wastage.
- Remember, one leaking tap can waste more than 2,000 litres a month.
- The most water efficient methods for cooking vegetables are microwaving, steaming or using a pressure cooker. You can also cut down on water loss by using tight lids on pots and simmering instead of boiling rapidly.
- Installing water efficient taps or tap aerators is a great, inexpensive way to cut your water usage without you even noticing.
- Put the plug in the sink when washing your hands instead of holding them under running water.
- Thaw frozen foods before you need them or use the microwave instead of placing them under running water.
- Prevent taps from leaking by turning taps off lightly and replace washers as soon as they begin to leak.
- Automatic dishwashers can use up to 40 litres of water per load. By using a dishwasher with at least a 3 star/AAA rating1, you can get this figure down to 18 litres per load and still get the kind of sparkling clean dishes you're used to.
- It's best to wait until you have a full load in your dishwasher before using it. This saves water and energy, and reduces the amount of detergent entering the sewerage system.
- Keep a container of water in the fridge so that you won't need to run the water down the sink until it's cool enough to drink.
- Washing fruit and vegies in a half-filled sink instead of under running water is a great way to cut back on water wastage.
- Rinsing your dishes in a plugged sink rather than under a running tap saves water and is just as easy and effective.
- Use a sink strainer.
- Try to use phosphate-free, eco-friendly detergents and cleaning products - there's a great range to choose from these days and they're much better for our environment.
- Remember to regularly clean the lint filter on your washing machine.
- Most washing machines have a load adjustment button or dial, so try to set this to match the amount of washing you're doing. If your machine doesn't have a load adjustment function, try to wait until you have enough washing for a full load.
- Installing one of the latest 3 star/AAA rating showerheads1 can give you a great shower and save you around 10 litres of water a minute. They also save you energy costs, as you'll use less hot water.
- To rinse your razor, run a little water into a plugged sink. Rinsing your razor under a running tap wastes lots of water.
- There's no need to leave the tap running while you brush your teeth. Simply wet your toothbrush before you begin and use a glass of water to rinse your mouth.
In the Bathroom
With around 49 per cent of all indoor water going down the drain in the bathroom, it's an obvious place to start when looking around the home for ways to save water, money and the environment.
We've made it easy for you to save with some great no effort water saving ideas.
Water wise products
You can save more than water with the latest water efficient devices - they can give your energy bills a trim as well.
Tap aerators
Aerators restrict the flow of water from your tap without reducing water pressure. Fit an aerator to your taps and reduce the amount of water you use by more than 50%.
Toilets
Toilets use more water than any other bathroom fixture. A normal single flush toilet can use up to 12 litres of water in one flush. New, more water-efficient toilets generally use only three litres each flush - that's 67% less water than a single flush toilet.
Did You Know?
A tap left running can waste up to 17 litres of water a minute.
A simple change like installing a water efficient showerhead could save you around $50 to $100 in water and energy costs every year.
A standard single flush toilet can use up to 12 litres of water. A water efficient dual flush toilet uses as little as three litres.
A leaking toilet can waste more than 16,000 litres of water a year.
Water efficient taps with an aerator or flow restrictor use 50 per cent less water than standard taps.
A water efficient dual flush toilet uses more than 60 per cent less water than a standard single flush toilet.
The bathroom accounts for around 49 per cent of all water used inside the home.
By installing a nine litre aerator on a tap you can save about half the amount of water you would use with a standard tap. Alternatively, by installing flow control valves or restrictors you can reduce the volume of water through a tap to between three and 15 litres per minute.
A dripping tap can waste more than 2,000 litres a month. That's 24,000 litres a year - more than an average household uses in one month.
An eight minute shower using a regular showerhead uses around 120 litres of water. A water efficient showerhead uses less than 72 litres.
In The Laundry
It's a fact of life that washing clothes isn't fun.
However, it should cheer you up a little to know that at least you can easily save yourself some money while you do it.
Water wise products
These days it's easier to save water than ever before with inexpensive, water efficient devices.
Tap aerators
Aerators restrict the flow of water from your tap without reducing water pressure. Fit an aerator to your taps and reduce the amount of water you use by more than 50%.
Water efficient washing machines
By using a 4A or 5A rated water efficient washing machine, you can save up to 63% more water compared to a machine with a lower rating.
Did You Know?
A tap left running can waste up to 17 litres of water a minute.
About 16 per cent of all indoor water is used in the laundry.
A AA-rated six kilogram washing machine uses less than 156 litres of water per cycle. A AAAA-rated six kilogram washing machine uses less than 72 litres of water per cycle.
Water efficient taps use 50 per cent less water than standard taps.
Flow control valves or restrictors can reduce the volume of water through a tap to between three and 15 litres per minute.
A dripping tap can waste more than 2,000 litres a month. That's 24,000 litres a year - more than an average household uses in a month.
In the Kitchen
Using less water in the kitchen doesn't take any effort.
By making a couple of minor changes to the way you do things, and installing some water efficient devices, you can save money and the environment and still have clean dinner plates. See how easy it is to change your kitchen habits.
Water wise products
These days it's easier to save water than ever before with inexpensive, water efficient devices.
Tap aerators
Aerators restrict the flow of water from your tap without reducing water pressure. Fit an aerator to your taps and reduce the amount of water you use by more than 50%.
Dishwashers
Today's dishwashers use less than half the water of earlier models. In the 1980s automatic dishwashers used more than 40 litres of water per cycle. Now AAA-rated dishwashers use as little as 18 litres of water per cycle.
Did You Know?
By washing your fruit and vegetables in a sink half filled with water (about nine litres) instead of rinsing them under the tap, you could save around 15 litres of water every time.
Aerators fitted to taps are a cheap way to reduce water flow by up to 50 per cent - without reducing effectiveness. They also reduce splashing.
Installing a six litre per minute tap aerator tap can save you at least half the amount of water used by a standard tap.
An automatic dishwasher can use more than 40 litres of water per cycle. Dishwashers with at least a AAA-rating can use as little as 18 litres per load.
More than ten per cent of all indoor water is used in the kitchen.
Flow control valves or restrictors can reduce the volume of water through a tap to between three and 15 litres per minute.
A tap left running wastes more than 10 litres of water a minute.
A dripping tap can waste more than 2,000 litres a month. That's 24,000 litres a year - more than an average household uses in one month.
Water efficient taps use 50 per cent less water than standard taps.
Toilets
Toilets use more water than any other bathroom fixture. A normal single flush toilet can use up to 12 litres of water in one flush. New, more water-efficient toilets generally use only three litres each flush - that's 67% less water than a single flush toilet.
Most toilets today feature a dual flush option to help you save water. When purchasing a toilet always look for one with a minimum of a 3A rating.
Remember the more As, the more water efficient your toilet is. A list of toilets with a 4A or 3A rating is available on the Water Services Association of Australia website.
This site also lets you know which toilets have received recognised environmental or water conservation awards.
To make sure your new toilet meets plumbing standards and regulations, have a qualified plumber install your toilet. This way you will also be sure that there are no leaks wasting water.
You can buy toilets from major hardware stores and plumbing retail outlets.
How a toilet works
Find out how a half flush option on a toilet uses less water than the full flush.
Detecting leaks and repairing your toilet.
An easy way to check if your toilet has a slow leak, is to add a few drops of food colouring to your toilet cistern. Don't flush the toilet for at least one hour. If the food colouring shows up in the toilet bowl after an hour, then you've got a leak.
We recommend that you get a licensed plumber to fix any leaks. Plumbers know which seals and washers are right for different toilets.
However if you are a handyman, take the parts of the toilet that need replacing to your local hardware store or plumbing retail outlet. The staff there will help you choose the correct replacement parts.
Remember to repeat the food colouring test to make sure you have fixed the leak.
Building and renovating your home
If you're thinking of renovating your home, or building a new one, make sure you explore all the fantastic water and energy saving solutions available these days.
With a little bit of planning and a few clever water saving devices, you can turn your home into one of the most economical and environmentally-friendly on the block.
When building or renovating you can also check out the State Government's BASIX Building Sustainability Index home page to find out how you can ensure your new home complies with government targets to reduce water use and greenhouse gas emissions, and for water saving and other sustainable design ideas.
Before you talk to your architect, builder or designer, make a list of the water efficient features you'd like to include in your home.
Things to consider
- Install a water efficient showerhead with at least a AAA-rating in your bathroom. You'll still get a great shower but use much less water and energy.
- Install dual flush toilets. They use half as much water as conventional models.
- Install water efficient low flow taps or tap aerators. They're more efficient than ordinary taps and reduce splashing.
- Choose a water efficient washing machine, and if you are buying a dishwasher, go for a water efficient model.
- Install your hot water system as close as you can to the bathroom and kitchen. This means you don't have to run the taps too long before hot water comes out.
- Insulate your hot water pipes and bath to keep your water hotter for longer.
- Think about installing a rainwater tank. It'll provide free water for the garden or for flushing the toilet.
- Don't forget to think about ways to save water when you design your garden.
- Take a look around our Interactive House for a quick peek at the things you can do to save water in every part of the home
Sourced from the Sydney Water Website - www.sydneywater.com.au
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