In your home

• In the Kitchen
• In the Bathroom
• In the Laundry

In the Kitchen

Many of us waste a lot of water running the tap when we don’t need to. In fact, in only a minute a running tap can waste 17 litres of water. So the very easiest way we can save water in the kitchen – is by using the plug! If you simply put the plug in the sink, you can save many, many litres a day.

Other easy ways to save water in the kitchen include:

• Use a microwave, steam or pressure cook your vegetables – you will save water and be rewarded with great tasting food! You can also cut down on water loss by using tight lids on pots and simmering instead of boiling rapidly.
• Thaw frozen foods in the fridge overnight or use the microwave instead of placing them under running water.
• 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.
• Install water efficient taps or tap aerators to cut your water usage without you even noticing the change.
• Don't use water-hungry kitchen-sink disposal units. Composting is an environmentally friendly alternative.
• Make sure you don’t have any leaking tap.
• Using dishwashers – wait until you have a full load. This saves water and energy, and reduces the amount of detergent entering the sewerage system.
• Rinsing your dishes in a plugged sink rather than under a running tap saves water and is just as easy and effective.
• Washing fruit and vegies in a half-filled sink instead of under running water is a great way to cut back on water wastage.
• Where convenient and appropriate, try to capture 'warm-up' water for use on plants, rinsing dishes, washing fruit and vegetables, or other cleaning tasks.

In the Bathroom

The bathroom is where we can all make a big water saving – nearly half the water we use in the house is used in the bathroom.

Don’t leave a tap running! Like the kitchen, we sometimes forget that running a tap in the bathroom wastes a lot of water, so:

• Don’t run the tap while you’re brushing your teeth – wet the toothbrush, turn the tap off, and just use when you’re finished to rinse off
• Don’t run the tap when you’re shaving – put some water in the sink and use it to wash your face and razor.

Some other easy tips for the bathroom are:

• Don't let cold water run down the drain while you're waiting for your shower to heat up. Instead, capture the water in a bucket and use it to water your plants.
• If you have an older toilet with a large capacity, try putting a bottle filled with water or a brick in the cistern to reduce the amount of water used with each flush.
• If you're installing a new toilet, buy one with a water efficiency rating. These use just 3-6L of water with each flush.
• Even if your toilet is only leaking slightly it can waste many thousands of litres of water every year. An old trick is to put food dye in the cistern and check the basin 30 minutes later. If the water is coloured, you need to check for worn or corroded parts.
• Try to restrict your shower time - five minutes is plenty of time to get clean. Put a timer in the shower if it's hard to keep track.
• Consider a water efficient showerhead - an eight minute shower using a regular showerhead uses around 120 litres of water. A water efficient showerhead uses less than 72 litres
• Save baths for special occasions and don't use more water than you need.
• Shaving your legs in the shower takes more time and hence uses more water. Fill a container with warm water and use it to shave your legs before you get into the shower - then you only need the running shower to rinse off.

In the Laundry

Of all water consumed in the home, about 15 - 20% is used in the laundry. And it’s in the laundry where we also use a lot of power and detergents, so it makes sense to cut down on waste in this room.

Some ideas are:

• Buy an energy-efficient washing machine. Generous washing machine rebates are available as an incentive to purchase one.
• Wait until you've got a full load before you use the washing machine. If you do a half load, adjust the water level accordingly.
• Buy a tank and use rainwater in your washing machine.
• Alternatively, grey water from the washing machine rinse cycle can be reused in the garden.
• 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.