Last Updated on September 7, 2023 by Pro Handyman Australia – Editorial Team

In parts of Australia, even when not faced with the immediate threat of drought, water conservation remains an imperative. Beyond the environmental benefits, being water-wise offers tangible economic advantages.

Some experts in the field believe that if individuals could manage to reduce their daily water consumption by just 50 litres, it might negate the necessity for additional water provision facilities, such as new dams or desalination plants. Such conservation measures might even lead to the easing of water restrictions.

Effective Water-Saving Measures in Different Areas of Your Home

If you are passionate about contributing to this cause, your home is the perfect place to start. In the following sections, we’ll explore effective strategies tailored to specific parts of your home.

In the Bathroom

The bathroom is a significant water consumption area in most households. Here’s how to reduce its water footprint.

Kitchen Wisdom

The heart of the home, the kitchen, offers various opportunities for water conservation. Let’s dive into the measures that can make a difference.

Laundry Insights

The laundry room might not be the first place you think of when considering water conservation, but with these tips, you can ensure every drop counts.

Outdoor Practices

Your outdoor spaces, including gardens and lawns, consume a significant amount of water. Here’s how to keep them lush without being wasteful.

Making the Most of Greywater Harnessing household greywater is a sustainable initiative, but it needs to be done right to avoid harming your garden. Learn the dos and don’ts of greywater use.

Table of Contents

Efficient Water Usage in the Shower

Adopting Simple Shower Habits Water conservation in the shower is achieved by incorporating a few straightforward practices:

Reduce your shower duration to a concise four minutes or even less.
Opt for a water-conserving showerhead.
Consider introducing a quick on/off switch for immediate water flow control.

Selecting the Right Water-Saving Showerhead

When seeking the perfect water-saving showerhead for your home, it’s crucial to refer to comprehensive buying guides. It’s worth noting that certain hot water systems, like continuous flow systems or some gravity-fed setups such as solar hot water systems with rooftop tanks, might not be compatible with these specific showerheads due to insufficient flow-rates. Always ensure to consult with retailers to ensure the compatibility of your system.

The Role of Flow Restrictors

For those reluctant to switch out their showerheads owing to aesthetic preferences, a viable alternative is the installation of a flow restrictor. An added measure could be investing in a shower timer. It helps inculcate awareness regarding shower durations; while an average shower spans about seven minutes, efficient lathering and rinsing can be accomplished in much less.

Mastering the Art of Intermittent Showering

A simple yet significant step towards conserving water is turning off the shower during activities like lathering or shampooing, where continuous water flow isn’t necessary. Re-engage the water flow only when you’re ready to rinse. This mindful practice can substantially cut down water usage.

For those showers without mixer tap levers, products like the Every Drop Shower Saver are beneficial. This lever, when fitted at the base of your shower stem, offers the ease of promptly stopping and starting water flow. However, it’s essential to verify the compatibility of your shower system before making a purchase.

Consider the Quench Shower for Renovations

If you’re looking into bathroom renovations, the Quench recycling shower offers an innovative solution. Once you’ve completed your initial rinse, the system recycles four litres of purified water, allowing you to indulge in extended showers without the associated guilt or wastage.

Maximizing Shower Efficiency

Smart Usage of Pre-warm-up Water

Before the shower reaches your desired temperature, it’s a thoughtful practice to collect the initial cold water in a bucket. This water can be resourcefully utilized for various purposes such as watering the garden, tending to potted plants, soaking laundry, hand-washing, or even toilet flushing. Opt for a collapsible plastic or fabric bucket, which is often available in camping stores. Its foldable design ensures easy storage and can also be used to transfer bathwater to your plants.

Rethink Your Shower Shaving Habit

Adding leg shaving to your shower routine extends the duration by approximately four minutes. This translates to around 36L of water even with an efficient showerhead. You might want to explore waterless hair removal methods such as waxing or using an epilator. Alternatively, you can apply lather and shave your legs with the shower turned off, only using water for a quick rinse thereafter.

Optimal Tap Use

Upgrade to Water-Efficient Taps

Embrace aerators – the water-efficient taps that deliver a sensation of robust water flow while utilizing just half the usual volume. Easily attachable to the end of your existing taps, aerators diminish the flow rate whilst ensuring the water remains aerated.

Mindful Toothbrushing

An elementary yet essential tip: always turn off the tap while brushing your teeth. It’s startling how this habitual oversight can lead to wastage of approximately 5L of water every minute. By simply being conscious about turning off the tap, one could save around 11,000L of water annually.

Optimizing Toilet Water Efficiency

Considering a New Toilet Installation?

While a full toilet replacement might not be on the horizon unless you’re planning a bathroom renovation, it’s essential to make informed choices if you do decide to upgrade. If you’re leaning towards a new installation, prioritize modern dual-flush systems that offer 6/3L or 4.5/3L options, ensuring maximum water efficiency.

Understanding Dual-Flush Cistern Varieties

For those familiar with the dual-flush cisterns, the 9L/4.5L model is the least efficient. However, it’s pertinent to note that if you’re thinking of transitioning from an old-style single-flush toilet, which typically uses a 12L flush, to a dual-flush system, the 9L/4.5L variant might be the only compatible option. This is mainly because the older toilets may not support the newer, more water-efficient cistern models.

Alternative Solutions for Water Efficiency

If a cistern replacement doesn’t align with your current plans, consider enhancing its efficiency through simple modifications. One effective solution is the installation of a flush control device that allows the flush to stop the moment you release the button. This ensures that you use water only for the time required to clear the bowl’s contents, eliminating excess water wastage. These devices are not only budget-friendly (often priced around $10) but can also be easily set up by those with basic DIY skills.

For those who might not be adept at handiwork or are living in rented spaces, there’s a tried-and-true method available. Simply place a brick or a water-filled plastic bottle inside the cistern. This subtle alteration can significantly reduce the water volume utilized per flush.

Efficient Water Usage in Your Kitchen

Dishwashing Insights

Modern dishwashers are designed to be more water-efficient than their predecessors. Surprisingly, they often consume less water than washing dishes by hand. For context, recent tests indicate that the average water consumption of a dishwasher is approximately 13L. On the other hand, even the most careful handwashing consumes at least 20L, with less efficient methods consuming up to 90L. If you’re considering purchasing a dishwasher, it’s wise to research and choose a model known for its water efficiency.

Efficient Water Usage in Your Kitchen

Dishwashing Insights Modern dishwashers are designed to be more water-efficient than their predecessors. Surprisingly, they often consume less water than washing dishes by hand. For context, recent tests indicate that the average water consumption of a dishwasher is approximately 13L. On the other hand, even the most careful handwashing consumes at least 20L, with less efficient methods consuming up to 90L. If you’re considering purchasing a dishwasher, it’s wise to research and choose a model known for its water efficiency.

Dishwasher Use Recommendations

Efficiency First: Contrary to common belief, pre-rinsing dishes before placing them in the dishwasher isn’t always necessary. Modern dishwashers are tested to effectively clean food remnants such as dried spinach, cereal, and egg yolk. So, rather than rinsing, simply scrape off food scraps before loading the dishwasher.
Optimal Programs: If you occasionally pre-rinse dishes, especially when not running the machine daily, consider using the ‘fast’ program. This not only consumes less water but also delivers an efficient cleaning performance.

Guidelines for Handwashing Dishes

Rethink Rinsing: Running water to rinse dishes can result in significant water wastage. Instead, as you begin washing, rinse drinking glasses while the sink fills. Post washing, utilize a pot of rinse water poured over the dishes in the drainer to effectively rinse them. For those with double sinks, partially fill one with hot water and briefly dip dishes that require an additional rinse.

Introducing Hot Water Recirculation

A common concern in many homes is the wastage of cold water as homeowners wait for the tap to deliver hot water. Hot water recirculation systems are designed to tackle this issue. This system takes the initial cold water and directs it to the hot water tank’s cold water inlet. When in need of hot water, users activate the system, and upon reaching the desired temperature, the pump turns off, ensuring immediate hot water flow upon opening the tap. Such systems are energy efficient and run for mere seconds. While these systems might seem like an added cost, ranging from $450 to $900, their efficiency, combined with the water savings, presents a compelling case for their installation.

Optimizing Water Usage in Your Laundry Room

Understanding Washing Machines Front-loading washing machines are typically more water-efficient compared to top loaders. While the initial investment for front loaders might be higher, potential rebates from water retailers can offset the cost, making them an economically and environmentally smart choice. However, it’s essential to note that some machines prioritize water efficiency over effective rinsing. If you’re relying solely on the WELS label for water efficiency, you may not be satisfied with the performance of the washing machine. Therefore, it’s crucial to select models that excel in both water conservation and rinse performance.

The Debate on Reusing Wash Water

The idea of repurposing greywater from washing machines for garden use might seem eco-friendly. However, recent chemical analyses of laundry detergents reveal a predicament. Detergents that effectively clean clothes often have elevated levels of sodium, salinity, and pH, which can be detrimental to gardens in the long run. Conversely, detergents that are garden-friendly may not provide optimal cleaning for clothes. The compromise? Avoid using the soapy wash water on plants, and instead utilize only the rinse water. By distributing the rinse water over a broad area and avoiding herbs and vegetables, you can maintain a healthy garden.

The Washer/Dryer Dilemma

At first glance, combined washer/dryers seem convenient, especially for those with limited space. However, their drying process consumes significant amounts of water. Instead of transforming the moisture in clothes into warm, damp air, these units condense the steam back into water, which subsequently goes down the drain. In contrast, pairing a front-loading washing machine with a conventional dryer can be a space-efficient and water-saving alternative, provided there’s adequate ventilation for the dryer’s exhaust.

Conserving Water Outdoors

Car Washing Techniques For those who take pride in a gleaming vehicle, it’s crucial to consider water efficiency while washing your car. A few strategies can make a significant difference:

Optimal Location: If you have a lawn, consider washing your car there to allow the water to benefit the grass. However, if you’re concerned about the weight of the car damaging your lawn, utilize the driveway and set up barriers to channel the runoff towards the lawn.
Bucket and Sponge: The traditional bucket and sponge approach can use up to 100L of water per wash. But with a mindful technique, this can be reduced considerably. For instance, we’ve found that it’s possible to effectively clean a small to medium-sized car with just two buckets of water, using a watering can for the rinse.
Hose with a Trigger Nozzle: If you prefer using a hose, fitting it with a trigger nozzle is advisable. In some regions, it might even be mandatory due to its water-saving capabilities. With a trigger nozzle, you can promptly stop the water flow when you’re not actively rinsing, unlike conventional hoses which might keep running. On average, using a hose with a trigger nozzle consumes about 120L of water, while a regular hose can use anywhere from 150L to 500L.
High-Pressure Car Cleaners: A low-flow high-pressure car cleaner is an efficient alternative, consuming about 23L of water. While their actual water consumption might slightly vary from the manufacturers’ claims, they are undeniably more efficient than traditional methods, and they also expedite the cleaning process.

Benefits of Rainwater Tanks Rainwater tanks offer a sustainable solution for households, regardless of the regional climate. Here’s why considering a rainwater tank is a wise decision:

High Collection Efficiency: Rainwater tanks can capture approximately 80% of the rainfall directed from roof areas connected to gutters and downpipes. To put this in perspective, 10mm of rain on a 100m^2 roof can yield about 800L of rainwater, sufficient for an average household’s daily consumption.
Financial Savings: Over time, a rainwater tank can lead to reduced mains water usage and consequently, a decrease in water bills. Some water suppliers even provide estimates on potential savings to encourage the adoption of tanks.
Environmental Impact: By lowering the demand on mains water and reducing stormwater runoff into natural waterways, households can substantially diminish their environmental footprint.
Quality of Water: Rainwater is often fresher, less salty, and tastes better than mains water. This not only benefits the household members but is also advantageous for appliances and plants due to its low salinity.

Conclusion

In today’s world, where water scarcity is an escalating concern, adopting sustainable water habits is no longer just a choice but a necessity. Whether it’s the bathroom, where conscious decisions during showers and flushes can save significant amounts, the kitchen, where mindful dishwashing and appliance usage can cut consumption, the laundry room, where selecting efficient machines and reusing water play a part, or even the broader household and outdoors – every drop counts. Each section of our homes offers unique opportunities to conserve this precious resource. By integrating these water-saving strategies into our daily routines, we not only ensure a reduction in our water bills but, more importantly, we contribute to a global effort in conserving and valuing water. Let’s make every effort count, for our planet and for future generations.