How to save water
Most Victorian homes use an average of 400 litres of water every day. Around 30 per cent is used for household purposes and 20 per cent is flushed down the toilet. There are many ways that plumbing can help you save water around the house or office.
If you are planning to install water saving devices, always ensure you use a licensed plumber for any plumbing installations.
In the home
Around 50 per cent of the water you use is for household use. Saving water around the home can be achieved in many ways:
- Check for leaks - leaking taps, pipes or dishwasher hoses can waste more than 2,000 litres of water per month. Checking for leaks is a cheap and easy way to save water. Replace washers regularly to avoid leaks.
- Install water efficient tapware - water efficient taps and showerheads can save up to $100 a year in water and energy costs. Combining water efficient tapware with aerators and flow restrictors can help reduce water use by 50 per cent compared with standard tapware.
- Turn off taps - Leaving taps running when not in use can waste up to 17 litres per minute. Ensure you turn off taps when brushing teeth, washing vegetables or cleaning.
- Short showers - taking shorter showers can save hundreds of litres of water each year.
- Install a dual flush toilet - dual flush toilets are water efficient and use up to 60 per cent less water than single flush toilets.
- Install water efficient appliances - appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines can often use a large amount of water. When purchasing water-using appliances, ensure you choose a product that has a high water efficiency rating, such as a AAA rating. Ensuring you always have a full load before washing can also reduce water use.
- Recycle water - you can reuse some of your household wastewater, known as greywater, to use for watering your garden or for toilet flushing. Restriction apply to greywater, read more.
