Water saving tips for inside your house

✔️ Check your water meter

If you have a water meter, turn all taps off before you go to bed one night and take a meter reading. Check the meter the next morning before any water is used. If the meter reading has advanced, and no-one used any water during the night, you may have a leaking pipe, tap or toilet cistern.

✔️ Check your toilet

A continuously running toilet can waste more than 16,000 litres of water per year. To check for leaks put a little food colouring in the tank. If without flushing the toilet, the colouring begins to appear in the bowl, the cistern should be repaired.

✔️ Check your taps

A slow drip from a tap can waste more than 200 litres of water per day. Turn taps off properly and fix any that are broken.

✔️ Install a duel flush toilet

If you are thinking of upgrading, install a dual flush toilet. Modern toilets give the option of full or half flush. Traditional toilets can usually be converted to dual flush too.

✔️ Take shorter showers

Try taking shorter showers of four minutes or less. A shorter shower will also save on hot water costs. To help the kids remember, you can buy a shower timer.

✔️ Install a water-saving shower rose

Many showers put out 20 litres of water per minute, however, 10 litres is enough for a refreshing shower.

✔️ Install a tap aerator

Install a simple, inexpensive tap aerator on your bathroom tap to reduce the water flow rate by 50 per cent. You can buy them from your local hardware store or your plumber.

✔️ Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth or shaving

✔️ Use a water-efficient washing machine

Up to a quarter of your household's water is used on the laundry. An inefficient washing machine can use 200 litres of water per wash. Replacing it is one of the biggest water savings you can make in your home.

✔️ Use a front loading washing machine

Front loading machines are generally more efficient than top loaders. They typically use 50 per cent less water, 35 per cent less detergent and 30 per cent less energy. This makes them a much more cost effective option.

✔️ Adjust your load

Make sure the washing machine's load adjustment is right for the load. If there's no load adjustment, wait until you have enough clothes for a full load.

✔️ Rinse responsibly!

When washing dishes by hand, don't rinse them under a running tap. If you have two sinks, fill the second one with rinsing water. If you have only one sink, stack washed dishes in a dish rack and rinse them with a pan of hot water.

✔️ Use your dishwasher only when full

Don't run the dishwasher until you have a full load. Dishwashers use a huge amount of electricity so it will save you money.

✔️ Don't let the tap run!

Don't let the tap run when cleaning vegetables. Just rinse them in a plugged sink or a pan of clean water.

✔️ Keep water in your fridge

Keep a bottle or a covered jug of drinking water in your fridge. It saves running the tap to get cold water.

✔️ Recycle water

Empty your water bottles onto your plants instead of in the sink.

✔️ Steam your vegetables

When cooking, use only a little water in the saucepan and keep the lid on. Steaming or using a pressure cooker keeps more nutrients in the food and reduces your energy and water use.

✔️ Compost your food scraps

Sink disposal units use about 30 litres of water per day and send a lot of extra rubbish into water treatment centres. Why not compost your food scraps instead and use them in the garden?

✔️ Use water-efficient appliances

Check the water efficiency labelling on your appliances. If you are buying a new appliance, check that is has a good rating.

✔️ Insulate hot water pipes

This avoids wasting water while waiting for hot water to flow through and saves you power and money.

✔️ Check your thermostat

Make sure your hot water system thermostat is not set too high. Adding cold water to cool too hot water is wasteful. The recommended setting is 60 degrees. Ask a plumber or electrician to change it if needed.

✔️ Insulate your spa pool

If you have a spa, ensure it is well insulated to keep water warm for longer. Reheating the water during the reticulation/spa process reduces water wastage.