Ipswich City Council

Ipswich Water > Residential > Conserving Water >

Inside the Home

Changing the way you use and think about water inside your home may mean addressing wasteful habits and requires a team effort on behalf of the entire household.

Become water wise and do your bit for your home, your local community and the environment.

Bathroom
A short shower goes a long way

Limit showers to under four minutes
Long, hot showers not only waste water but heaps of energy too.
Install water efficient shower heads
Water efficient shower roses use approximately 7 or 8 litres of water per minute, while conventional showers guzzle 15 to 25 litres of water per minute! (WELS).
Try colder showers
Showering at a temperature cooler than what you're used to may persuade you to shower shorter!
Be resourceful
Catch your shower water for your garden or indoor plants.

8 minute shower

4 minute shower

Conventional shower (15 litres/min)

120 litres per person per day

Hot water used: 60 litres

4.00 kWh per person per day

Water efficient shower rose (8 litres/min)

32 litres per person per day

Hot water used: 16 litres

1.07 kWh per person per day

1.73 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year per person

0.46 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year per person

http://www.carbonneutral.com.au/calculator.htm

Making the switch to a water efficient shower rose and cutting your showering time can bring huge savings on your household water consumption, your water and energy bills, as well as your greenhouse gas emissions.

Slow the flow - only use tap water when needed

Install aerators or in-tap flow regulators
This is a very cheap and simple way of limiting the water gushing from your tap.
Turn off the tap
When brushing your teeth or shaving - don't leave the water running.
Stop the leaks!
A slowly leaking tap can waste up to 20 000 litres of precious water down the drain and cost you money for water you are not using - replace tap washers regularly.

The toilet is not your rubbish bin

Don't use the toilet as a rubbish bin
Apart from causing problems to our wastewater systems, this practice wastes large volumes of water. Place a small bin next to your toilet.
A dual flush toilet suite can use 50 per cent less water than a standard single flush toilet.
Use your dual flush toilet accordingly
Use the full flush only when necessary.
Fix a leaking toilet
A leaking toilet cistern can waste up to a litre of water per hour. To check your toilet, place a few drops of food colouring in the tank. Without flushing it, look for colouring in the toilet bowl. If it's getting through, you've got a leak and its time for a visit from the plumber.

Kitchen
Don't waste our future down the drain

Use a plug
When rinsing dishes or washing fruits and vegies.
Save with a lever tap
Single lever mixer taps allow you to find the right water temperature quickly.
Keep cool drinking water in the fridge
Don't let the tap run cool.
Choose water efficient appliances - at least 3 star or AAA rated
The most efficient dishwashing machines use half the water of average models.
Wait for a full load
Only run your dishwasher when full and select the economy setting - you will save both water and energy.

Laundry

Upgrade to a water efficient washing machine
New models can use up to three time less water than older models.
Wait for a full load
Only run your washing machine when you have a full load for greatest efficiency, otherwise adjust water level appropriately.
Make safer greywater
By using environmentally friendly, low phosphorous washing detergents. Your plants will thank you for it.

Last Updated 16 Oct 2007 |

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