Simple Ways to Conserve Water in Your Household

Water is life. But with unprecedented climate changes, deforestation, and pollution of water bodies, the availability of clean water is declining. That’s why we recommend lifestyle changes like water conservation and paper recycling in Melbourne to safeguard our future. 

And the best place to start these changes is at home. So, today, we’ll outline the best water-saving tips to use in your household. Read on to discover how to save water in the kitchen, bathroom, and even outdoors. 

 

Water-Saving Tips in the Kitchen 

About 10% of water consumed at home is used in the kitchen for tasks like cleaning and cooking. Use these tips to reduce water waste in your kitchen: 

• Wash fruits and vegetables in a bowl rather than running water. Reuse the water for purposes like flushing the toilet or watering plants.
• Avoid rinsing dishes using running water. Instead, wash the dishes, stack them in a rack, and rinse them with hot water. Or, if your kitchen has double sinks, fill one with water for rinsing.
• Invest in tap aerators to reduce water flow. 
• Use a jug to collect running water when waiting for it to heat or cool, and use it for other purposes like cleaning fruits. 
• Use a little dishwashing liquid to avoid using too much water when rinsing utensils. 
• Only use your dishwasher when you have a full load of utensils. For fewer items, handwashing is more economical. 

 

Conserving Water in the Bathroom 

Approximately 40% of your household’s water usage happens in the bathroom. With sustainable water use in the bathroom, you can lower your water and electric bills. Below are some tips to get started:

 

Shower Water-Saving Tips

• Shorter showers: Limit your showers to less than four minutes 
• Use a water-saving showerhead: WELS 3 or 4-star-rated showerheads use about 7 litres of water per minute, unlike older ones that can release up to 25 litres in a minute. 
• Collect the running water when waiting for the water to heat up and reuse it. 

 

Toilet Water-Saving Tips 

• Install a dual flush: Old cisterns use about 11–18 litres of water per flush. Replace them with a dual flush that only uses about 4.5 litres (full) and 3 litres (half), promoting sustainable water use. 
• Fix leaking toilets: Avoid water wastage by identifying and repairing leaking toilets. 
• Don’t flush everything: Only flush poo, pee, and toilet paper. Flushing other items can cause blockage and huge water wastage. 
• Reduce the cistern’s capacity: If you can’t replace the old cistern, you can lower the amount of water it carries by placing a water-filled plastic bottle inside. 

 

Bath Water-Saving Tips 

• Reuse bath water: For example, you can use the bathwater to clean your car. 
• Check temperature: Set the right temperature when filling the tub to avoid adding extra hot or cold water, which causes wastage.
• Don’t add excess water: Only let the tub fill to your desired level to prevent wasting water. 

 

Taps: How to Reduce Water Waste 

• Don’t leave the tap running when brushing: Turn off the tap when brushing, since leaving it running could cause a waste of up to 15 litres. 
• Use the tap only when necessary: For example, you can save water by cleaning your face with water in a basin rather than a running tap. 

 

Water Conservation in the Laundry 

• Reduce water waste by only cleaning a full load once, rather than multiple small loads. 
• Invest in a front-loading washing machine that has a 5 or 6-star Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) rating. Top-loading washing machines use twice as much water as front-loading ones. 
• Reuse the greywater from the laundry, but ensure your house meets the required health, plumbing, and planning requirements. 

 

Additional Water Conservation Tips at Home 

Sustainable water use goes beyond the kitchen and bathroom. You can also save water using these tips:

• Install gutters around the house and use water tanks to collect rainwater. You can then use the water for non-potable purposes like cleaning cars. 
• Invest in water-saving devices like well-rated WELS dishwashers 
• Apply wetting agents or mulch in your garden to increase soil moisture retention 
• If you have a garden, avoid over-watering it. Consider having drought-resistant or water-wise plants with minimal water requirements. 

 

Water Conservation and Recycling for a Greener Future

Every drop of water you save today brings us closer to the sustainability goal. Adopt the water-saving tips we’ve discussed, reduce waste, and play your role in protecting this precious resource. But don’t stop there. 

Pair water conservation with eco-friendly practices like paper and cardboard recycling to make a huge impact towards sustainability. Ready to get started? Partner with AB Recycling and join the movement for a cleaner and greener planet.