Water Conservation Tips – Bathroom & Laundry

We use more water in our bathrooms than in any other (internal) part of the house. It’s a great place to start looking for ways to save water as bathrooms and toilets use 40% of the household water use.

The biggest water-users in the home are washing machines, showers, taps and toilets.

Water-efficient appliances and fixtures can make a big difference to household water consumption. If you’re looking to upgrade appliances at home, water efficient products could save the average household $175 / year. The tips below provide ideas for saving water in your home.

Toilets

Up to 16% of household water is flushed down the toilet. The following tips can reduce the amount of water used and in turn help reduce your water bills.

		Replace your older-style toilet suite with a 4-star WELS Scheme dual-flush system. This can save up to 8 litres of water with every flush;
		Use the half-flush option on dual-flush systems and never flush items other than toilet paper down the toilet;
		Talk to your plumber about having your rainwater tank internally plumbed to your toilet;
		Check for leaks – a leaking toilet can waste more than 60,000 litres of water a year. Check for leaks by putting a little food colouring in the cistern. If the colouring begins to appear in the bowl without flushing, have the cistern rubber repaired immediately. Flush as soon as the test has been completed.

Showers

A standard shower can use 20 litres of water per minute, and accounts for up to 24% of household water use.

		Install a water-efficient shower head. A WELS Scheme 3-star rated shower head will use no more than 9 litres of water per minute.
		Take a shorter shower. Shorter showers not only save water but also help reduce the amount of energy associated with heating the water.
		Insulate your hot water pipes. This means you won’t have to wait as long for the hot water to flow through – saving you both water and energy.
		Make sure your hot water system thermostat is not set too high.
		Use a bucket to catch water while the shower warms up. You can then reuse this water on your garden.

Baths & Basins

You can reduce water use in baths and basins by:

		Insert a plug when washing your hands in a basin;
		Turn off the tap while cleaning your teeth or shaving;
		Use as little water as possible in the bath by placing the plug in before you turn on the tap and fill the bath to less than a third full;
		You may also like to bath small children together;
		Have a licensed plumber install flow restrictors and aerators to taps around the house. If you install an aerator on your taps, you can save 13 litres per day without losing pressure;
		Replace your older-style tapware with high star rated WELS Scheme products.

Search for Water Efficient Household Products

The Australian Government’s Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) scheme helps Australians compare the water efficiency of a range of appliances and fixtures such as showers, washing machines, toilets and dishwashers.

Products are tested for water consumption and given a rating of up to 6 stars. The rating label is displayed on the product.

The Water Rating Database helps search for the most water efficient products on the market.

Laundry

Selecting the right washing machine is the best way to save water and energy. A washing machine with a 4-star WELS Scheme rating or better used 50% less water. Other tips to reduce water use in the laundry include:

		Try not to use your washing machine every day. Instead, sort clothes and wash bigger loads less frequently;
		Pre-treat stains to limit the need to rewash;
		Use small amounts of water is washing clothes by hand and reuse this water in your garden;
		Divert grey water from your washing machine for immediate use on your garden (except vegetables);
		Consider using biodegradable, low-phosphorous, low-sodium and low-nitrogen detergents as they are better for the garden;