Saving Water

Choose plumbing fixtures that have built-in flow restricting devices.

A running tap uses about 16 litres of water per minute.

No. Flow-controlled aerators for taps are inexpensive and can reduce water flow by 50 per cent.

Insulate hot water pipes, this avoids wasting water while waiting for hot water to flow through and saves energy.

The “star” rating replaces the old triple “A” rating and is an easy way to tell how water efficient a product is. The more stars a product has, the less water it uses.

A 3-star showerhead allows flows of 9 litres per min or less when showering.

Don’t rinse your razor under a running tap. Filling the basin with a little warm water is just as effective and less wasteful.

Some single flush toilets can be made more water efficient by installing a cistern weight or by adjusting the float valve.

A cistern weight will increase your toilet’s water efficiency but you will still use more water than a 4-star water efficient dual flush toilet.

Front-end loaders are generally more water efficient than top loaders.

Garbage-disposal units use about six litres of water per day. Put suitable food scraps into a composter or worm farm rather than down the kitchen sink.

Yes. Installing a rainwater tank is a great way to reduce the use of mains water in your swimming pool.

Rainwater diverters are an inexpensive alternative to installing a tank. They attach to a downpipe and can be used to divert rainwater into your swimming pool.

In large downpours, you will need to monitor the water level in your pool so that it does not overflow. You should consult a plumber about stormwater diversion.

You can, and windy areas contribute to more evaporation. To reduce water loss,use a pool cover and adjust the landscape around your pool with walls and hedges that create shelter from the wind.

These are a new alternative available if you don't want to hide your pool water with a cover or blanket.

The chemical forms a barrier on the water's surface which inhibits evaporation by up to 40 per cent. It can either be added to the pool daily by hand or by using an automatic metering system.

Your water meter is usually just inside the front boundary of your property. You'll recognise it as a low metal pipe structure with a tap handle at one end and a meter dial in the middle.

Remember to keep your meter clear of leaves and garden debris, as we need to have easy access to it.

Before you go to bed, check your water meter reading and write it down somewhere safe. You'll also need to make sure no-one in your household uses any water during the night.

The following morning, before anyone starts using water, go and check your meter again.

Write this new figure down next to the figure from the night before and compare them. If the morning figure is higher, you have a water leak that needs to be traced and fixed.

Greywater is any water that has been used in the shower, bath, washing machine or sink.

There are two types of greywater systems that allow you to use greywater in different ways:

• A greywater diversion device allows untreated greywater to be used for outdoor purposes by distributing water to your garden through a below-surface irrigation system.
• A greywater treatment system enables you to use treated greywater for above surface irrigation, toilets and washing machines. Treated greywater can also be stored.

You can also manually collect greywater using a bucket in the shower or laundry for reuse in the lawn and garden.

Don’t water in the middle of the day, in windy conditions, or if rain is likely.

Make a small dam from mulch and soil to avoid water running off the soil.

Water the roots of plants rather than the leaves, reducing windspray and evaporation.

Replace struggling plants in autumn with drought-tolerant species.

An average pool in NSW will lose about 865 litres per week. This amounts to 45,000 litres per year.

No. Greywater should not be used on any plants intended for consumption.

Cool season grasses should be left longer in summer but warm season grasses (couch, buffalo) can be kept short.

Kentucky Blue, Perennial Ryegrass, Carpet Grass and Bentgrass are all good quality cool season grasses.

Buffalo, Couch and Hard, Tall and Sheep Fescue varieties are all great quality warm season grasses.

Turn the tap off when brushing your teeth. Wet your brush and use a glass for rinsing.

Visit the Savewater.com.au product library and click on "browse categories".