Quick tips for the home

Take a look through the tips below for some ideas on how you can use water wisely around your home.

• Install a WELS 4-star rated water efficient shower head can give you a great shower and save you around 10 litres of water a minute. They also save you energy costs, as you'll use less hot water.
• Checking for leaks in taps, pipes, irrigation systems and dishwasher hoses is an easy way to reduce water wastage. Remember, one leaking tap can waste more than 2,000 litres a month.
• Installing water efficient taps or tap aerators is a great, inexpensive way to cut your water usage without you even noticing.
• Prevent taps from leaking by turning taps off lightly and replace washers as soon as they begin to leak.
• If you are buying a washing machine choose a WELS 4.5 star rated front loader
• Automatic dishwashers can use up to 40 litres of water per load. By using a dishwasher with at least a WELS 5 star rating1, you can get this figure down to 10 litres per load and still get the kind of sparkling clean dishes you're used to.
• It's best to wait until you have a full load in your dishwasher before using it. This saves water and energy, and reduces the amount of detergent entering the wastewater system.
• Washing fruit and vegies in a half-filled sink instead of under running water is a great way to cut back on water wastage.
• To rinse your razor, run a little water into a plugged sink. Rinsing your razor under a running tap wastes lots of water.
• There's no need to leave the tap running while you brush your teeth. Simply wet your toothbrush before you begin and use a glass of water to rinse your mouth.

¹The Australian Government, in collaboration with State and Territory governments, has introduced a Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) Scheme, which applies national mandatory water efficiency labelling and minimum performance standards to household water-using products.