Saving water in the home
We have come a long way in building water saving habits, but the average household in the Lower Hunter uses 177 litres of water per person daily. For a sustainable water future for all, we are aiming for 155 litres.
Bathroom
With over a quarter of the average household's water being used in the shower, you can make the biggest difference to your water usage in the bathroom.
Showers
- Aim for four minutes in the shower. Shorter showers are the single most effective way we can save water.
- Every minute in the shower can use up to 15 litres of water. That ten-minute shower could be using over 100 litres.
- Put a bucket in your shower to catch water while it warms up. You can use this to water the garden or flush the toilet.
Toilets
- A half flush uses half the water as the full flush. Choosing the half flush can save about five litres of water each time.
- A continuously running toilet can leak up to 60,000 litres per year as the water trickles down the back of the bowl. Learn how to check for leaks.
Kitchen
Using the dishwasher can use up to 15 litres per load.
- Dishwashers generally use less water than hand washing, but only if you use your dishwasher efficiently! This means only doing a load when it's full and stack your dishes to make the most of the space.
- Use the air-dry setting or turn the dishwasher off after its final rinse and open the door.
- Keep a container in the sink to catch water while it warms up. Use it to water your plants or fill your kettle.
- When buying a new dishwasher, consider its water efficiency or look out for the WELS label. A dishwasher with a higher WELS rating could save you twice as much water.
How to check for leaks
A dripping tap and leaking toilet can waste over a hundred litres of water a day.
Regularly check your taps, pipes and fittings to fix leaks, preventing unnecessary water wastage and saving you money on your water bill.
Laundry
The average load of washing can use up to 70 litres of water.
- Wait until you have a full load before turning on the washing machine.
- If you need to do a smaller load, try adjusting the water level to suit the size of your wash.
- When buying a new washing machine, consider a water-efficient model by checking the WELS rating.
Greywater
Greywater is the wastewater that would typically go down the drain from the shower, bath, hand basins or washing machine.
- It is safe to be reused around the home and garden, if done correctly.
- Greywater does not include water from the kitchen sink or from toilets.
- Using greywater can be as simple as collecting it in a bucket, or as complex as installing diversion and treatment systems.