Did you know? The water on our Earth today is the same water that's been here for nearly 5 billion years and is the same water that woolly mammoths, dinosaurs, and the first humans ever drank!
Only 0.5% of Earth's water is available for drinking. To help conserve water and celebrate World Water Day on 22 March 2023, we've pulled together some water saving tips for you.
Around your house
- Every minute under a shower uses around 10 litres of water. Showering for 4 minutes instead of 10 can save 60 litres a day
- Turn off your tap/shower while brushing your teeth, lathering soap, cleaning shaving and shampooing
- Install a WELS 4-star rated water saving showerhead to save on water and energy costs
- Thaw frozen food in the fridge or microwave, not under a running tap
- Use the half flush. It will save up to 4.5 litres every time
- Replace leaking taps and toilets around your home. One drip every second can waste 7,000 litres of water a year!
In the Garden
- Water your garden before 10am and after 4pm to reduce water loss through evaporation
- Pull out weeds as soon as they sprout so they don't take water away from your plants
- Plants absorb water through their roots, so water the soil around of each plant, not the leaves
- Apply a 7-10 centimetre deep layer of mulch around your plants to help prevent water from evaporating
- Use a broom to sweep leaves and debris off hard surfaces instead of a hose
- Talk to your local nursery about how to choose water wise plants for your garden and group plants that need the same amount of water together so that none of them get too much
- Keep your swimming pool covered with a cover. This will save half the volume of your pool from evaporating each year.
Challenge yourself!
How many water-saving tips can you complete throughout the month?
You can also work out how much water you use in a day by looking at the meter on one day and comparing it at the same time the next day. The difference in the meter reading is the amount of water used in a day.
For more ways to conserve water and save on your water and electricity bills, book a free home assessment with our Home Waste and Sustainability Advisory Officer.
