Efficient water use in the home
Efficient water use is about making the things that use or provide water more efficient. Using water-efficient fittings, appliances and systems can save between 20-40% of all water used in the home.
Water-efficient fittings include showerheads, taps, nozzles and valves that save water by reducing flow and making every litre of water used work harder to give the same result. Water-efficient appliances and systems include dishwashers, washing machines and irrigation systems that are designed to use the least amount of water needed without compromising quality.
Making your home water-efficient the easy way is a two-step process:
- Plan. You will have a rough idea of when your tap washers or the washing machine needs replacing. Maybe the kitchen or bathroom renovation is finally happening. Plan for this by doing your research about water-wise replacements and options. Often, there is a very small cost difference between fittings and appliances that are water-efficient and those that aren't. It may also save you from the folly of fitting that fabulously arty appliance that also happens to be a water guzzler.
- Spend smart. Sometimes, it's smarter to re-fit a water-efficient appliance or fitting even if something works, because the comparable ongoing cost of water use is so much more. Good examples include water-efficient showerheads, dual-flush cisterns and trigger-nozzles on hoses.
An easy way to identify water-efficient fittings and appliances is through WELS ratings: the higher the star rating, the better. Aim for at least a 4-star WELS rating or higher.
Top water-efficiency actions in the home
Top taps. Install water-efficient valves and washers in all your taps. For a few dollars, they slow the rate of water flow without reducing water pressure, and decrease the likelihood of leaky taps.
Sensible showers. Install a water-efficient showerhead today; it can reduce your water use by over 50% compared with a conventional showerhead! You can exchange your showerhead for a free water-efficient one from Council and your local water company. Simply visit our Community Programs page.
Bathing beauty. About 20 to 30% of all the water used at home is in the bath or shower. Why not install a grey-water diverter to your shower or bath outlet and feed your whole garden (which generally accounts for 20% of all domestic water use)? There are many grey-water diversion systems. The simplest systems cost less than $30 and are simply a smart hose diverter from your bath/shower outlet to your irrigation system or tank. Simply visit the Greywater systems page.
Smart toilets. About 25% of all the water we use at home is flushed down the toilet. What a waste of clean water just for poo! So make your cistern water-wise. A water-efficient dual flush toilet uses between 3 and 6 litres of water per flush (between a quarter and half of the water used by a single-flush toilet). It can save the average Port Phillip household over $90 annually on water bills and $2,000 over the lifetime of the cistern itself.
Wow washers. Water-efficient dishwashers use about a third to a tenth of the water used to hand-wash a sink-load of dishes, and about a third of the water used by conventional dishwashers. Ensure it's a full load though, or you will be using more water than you would by hand-washing! Water-efficient washing machines can save between 25 and 50% of the water used by a conventional one. Again, ensure it's a full load. If you're in the market for a new or re-used dishwasher or washing machine, ensure it is a size that fits your needs (bigger is not better in this case). Also, go for the highest energy and water rating; the more stars, the better. Why not visit the Green Pages to get an idea of a water and energy efficient model that suits your needs?