Save Water at Home

Australia is one of the driest continents on Earth, yet we are, per capita, the greatest consumers of water. According to savewater.com we use more than 1 million litres of freshwater per person each year. In an average Australian city, this means that every day the water we use in and around our homes would fill the equivalent of 1,000 Olympic swimming pools! And nearly half of that is in the bathroom.

Here are some other handy hints to help you reduce the amount of waste around your home:

In the Bathroom:

• Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily.
• A simple change like installing an AAA-rated showerhead could save your household up to $50 in water and energy costs every year.
• AAA-rated toilets use around 67% less water than a standard single flush toilet.

Around the Home:

• Installing water efficient taps or tap aerators is a great, inexpensive way to cut your water usage
• Ensure your hot water pipes are insulated. This will avoid wasting water while waiting for the hot water to flow through.
• Always replace leaking washers and turn taps off gently to make the washers last longer. Remember, one leaking tap can waste 2,000 litres a month!
• Verify that your home is leak free, because many homes have hidden water leaks. Read your water meter before and after a two hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, there is a leak.

In the Kitchen:

• Use the minimum amount of dishwashing liquid when washing your dishes by hand. This will reduce the amount of rinsing required.
• Rinse dishes in a plugged sink rather than under a running tap.
• Washing fruit and vegies in a half-filled sink rather than under a running tap is a great way to cut back on water wastage.
• Never put water down the drain when there may be another use for it such as watering a plant or garden, or cleaning.
• Do not use running water to thaw meat or other frozen foods. Defrost food overnight in the refrigerator or by using the defrost setting on your microwave.

In the Garden:

• By watering early morning or late afternoon you can reduce the water wasted through evaporation.
• Plant native and/or drought tolerant grasses, ground covers, shrubs and trees. Once established, they do not need to be watered as frequently and they usually will survive a dry period without any watering. Groups plants together based on similar water needs.

Generally:

• Avoid the purchase of recreational water toys which require a constant stream of water.
• Encourage your family and friends to be part of a water conscious community.
• Conserve water because it is the right thing to do. Don't waste water just because someone else is footing the bill such as when you are staying at a hotel.

References:
http://www.americanwater.com/
http://www.savewater.com/