Water saving products
Did you know that a house fitted with water efficient appliances can reduce consumption by about 25%?
So if every household in the Hunter region used water efficient appliances, we would save an enormous amount of water!
There is a huge variety of products that can help us save water – some have received the Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme approval, which requires products to be labelled according to their water efficiency. The Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme covers a whole range of products, including toilets, showerheads and dishwashers and washing machines.
Here is a list of some of the main water saving products available with a brief explanation of what they do that saves water:
Showerheads
A standard showerhead may use up to 25 litres of water per minute.
A water-efficient showerhead can use as little as seven litres per minute and can be fitted to most showers.
Hunter Water offers a Refit program which includes installation of a water efficient showerhead.
Hot water recycling pumps
Many of us leave the shower or bath running until the water is warm enough for comfort – there are rotary pump combinations that recycle cooled water back into the hot water tank to reduce the amount of water wasted.
Flow controllers
By installing flow controllers to existing showerhead or tap outlets, water use can be reduced easily and economically. There are a number of flow control options:
Aerators
Water saving aerators can be easily installed to bathroom, kitchen and laundry taps. Aerators restrict the flow of water from your tap without reducing water pressure. Fit an aerator to your taps and reduce the amount of water you use by more than 50%.
Aerators come in a number of sizes and – depending on whether your tap is in the kitchen, bathroom, etc.
There are three main aerator flow types:
• Aerated flows - introduce air into the water stream. This softens the stream and reduces water splash when, for example, you are washing dishes.
• Laminar flows - remove air to provide a clear water stream. They are commonly used in hospitals and medical clinics to prevent airborne bacteria from entering the water.
• Spray flow - in low flow conditions, where aerators and laminar devices would not function effectively, spray flows spread the tap's water stream over a wider area. This type of aerator ensures full coverage when washing your hands and is recommended for use in public toilets to reduce water consumption.
Flow control discs
Flow control discs provide an economical option for reducing water use through showerhead or tap outlets and are especially suited to rental properties.
Flood stop valves
Flood stop safety valves prevent your front-loading washing machine and dishwasher from flooding your home anytime by simply fitting to the taps
In line flow regulators
In line flow regulators are used distribute water evenly and deliver a set amount of litres per minute. You can easily reduce water consumption without losing water flow by combining a flow regulator with an aerator.
Toilets
Dual flush toilets
Toilets use more water than any other bathroom fixture. A normal single flush toilet can use up to 12 litres of water in one flush. New, more water-efficient toilets generally use only three litres each flush - that's 67% less water than a single flush toilet. Most toilets today feature a dual flush option to help you save water. When purchasing a toilet always look for one with a minimum of a 3A rating.
To make sure your new toilet meets plumbing standards and regulations, have a qualified plumber install your toilet. This way you will also be sure that there are no leaks wasting water.
Single flush toilet regulators
If it is not possible to change your toilet, there are products available to regulate the amount of water used in a single-flush toilet cistern by ensuring that the toilet only flushes while the button is held down. These products also use a bag to restrict the amount of water that can be flushed at one time by up to 2 litres, which adds up to a considerable saving.
Clothes washing machines
Clothes washing machines are huge water users. A conventional top loading machine can use up to 170 litres for a wash, while a front loading machine, which is much more water efficient, typically uses only one-third of this amount.
For example, a AA-rated six kilogram washing machine uses less than 156 litres of water per cycle, while a AAAA-rated six kilogram washing machine uses less than 72 litres of water per cycle.
Twin tub washing machines use even less water – around 40 litres a wash.
Dishwashers
Many dishwashers are heavy water users – some using up to 40 litres of water per wash. By using a dishwasher with a minimum 3-star/AAA rating, you'll use as little as 18 litres of water per load.
In the garden
Even outside the house there’s a range of products that we can use to help reduce the amount of water we need to use:
Rainwater tanks
Installing a tank allows you to harvest rainwater and use it for your garden, which reduces the amount of water you need to take from the mains.
Click on the link for more information about the rebate offer for rainwater tanks
Soft spray wands
The soft spray protects delicate plants and uses water only where and when it’s needed – many soft spray wants include an off/on button so you are only using water when it’s needed. Wands are gentle on your delicate plants and waters hard to reach areas such as hanging baskets.
Trigger nozzles for hoses
Hand-watering your garden with a trigger nozzle is good for both your plants and the environment - not only are they easier to operate they enable you to release water only when necessary.
High pressure cleaners
As high pressure cleaners use a pump to spray a mixture of air and water they can use up to 80% less water than a standard hose to complete a job.
Soil wetters
Soil wetters assist by enhancing the soil’s ability to accept and retain water and can be applied in liquid or granular format to the surface. Then, when you water the garden, the water leaches into the soil enabling water to reach the root systems effectively.
Water saving crystals
Water storage crystals act as reservoirs of water in the soil that plants can access during dry conditions. Absorbs and stores water in soil or potting mix providing a reserve of moisture during dry periods and lengthening the period between required watering. Crystals can absorb up to 400 times their weight in water and can be mixed into the soil or potting mix before planting. The plants root system will then seek these small reservoirs and penetrate the crystals.
Greywater recycling devices
Using grey water (water from bathtubs, showers, bathroom washbasins, clothes washing machines, laundry tubs) can help keep your garden thriving during periods of low rainfall.
Rain / moisture sensors
While automatic irrigation systems are convenient and reliable, water can be wasted when the automatic system continues to operate even though it is raining or the soil is already moist.
Rain sensors prevent watering by cutting off the flow of water through automatic irrigation systems when rainfall is detected. Moisture sensors interrupt the automatic system timer or computer when high soil moisture content is detected.
Rainwater diverters
Rainwater diverters are an easy way to redirect the water collected from your roof to any area of the garden where you need it. The diverters usually include an overflow system, which directs the excess water away as usual if there is heavy rain.