If you have an older toilet with a large capacity, fill a bottle (1.25L or 2L) with sand or water, and place it in the cistern so that each time you flush you will use less water.
Repair leaking toilets, showers and taps:
A dripping tap wastes up to 10L of water each day, so replace washers promptly.
A leaky toilet wastes up to 10L of water every hour. To check if your toilet is leaking, add food dye to the cistern. If colour appears in the bowl within half an hour, the toilet needs repairs.
Save good water going down the plug hole:
A tap running strongly uses up to 20L of water per minute.
Keep a container of drinking water in the fridge so that you don’t let the water run down the plughole waiting for the water to cool.
Keep a container in the shower and sink to collect cool water while the water is warming up.
Thaw frozen foods in the fridge or microwave rather than placing them under running water.
Don’t wash vegetables or rinse dishes under a running tap – use a basin or plugged sink.
Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or shaving. Put a plug in the sink when shaving.
When you collect water in containers to prevent it from going down the plug hole, you can reuse the water for plants and gardens or to wash your car.
Wait for a full load before washing clothes:
Or reduce the water level for a smaller load.
Every load less can save 17 buckets of water.
Take shorter showers:
Don’t clean your teeth or shave in the shower.
A shower uses 10 to 20L of water per minute, so every minute less in the shower saves one bucket of water.
If possible, also install a AAA rated water saving showerhead – this can save up to 11L of water per minute.
Recycle greywater:
Collect water from the washing machine and the shower in a bucket and use it to water plants and gardens or wash your car.
If you own your own home, consider installing a complete greywater collection and re-use system.
Be water efficient with your cooking:
Microwave, steam or use a pressure cooker to cook vegetables, to retain more flavour and use less water than traditional boiling.
Use minimal water when cooking pasta, and by using the absorption method of cooking rice.
Buy water efficient appliances:
The government offers rebates on water-efficient washing machines; front loaders tend to be more efficient than top loaders.
Modern dishwashers can be water efficient, but older models can use much more water than washing dishes by hand. Only run the dishwasher when it is full.
Install aerating taps:
These are inexpensive and can reduce water flow by 50%.
In the garden:
Use plants with low water requirements
Use plenty of mulch and water saving crystals.
Install a rain water tank:
These can collect many thousands of litres of water each year.
GreenFriends Australia: 