5 Ways to Save Water during 2017
Melbourne’s total water use was 272 gigalitres in 2015/16. Today we’re going to look at some ways we can reduce this for 2017.
Water is a precious resource in an uncertain future climate: so here are some plumbing tips to reduce your water consumption and save on some dollars.
1. Get Those Leaks Fixed
Leaking taps can lose a litre of water every hour – over the course of a week that’s enough to fill a bath. And if it’s your hot water tap – that’s more energy money down the drain.
In Victoria, it’s actually illegal to tackle plumbing jobs without a licence. Book in a trained, licensed plumber at expressplumbingandgas.com.au and get that leak fixed up.
2. Take Shorter Showers
It seems obvious, yet most of our water consumption occurs during shower time.
Install a timer in your shower so you can standardise the time spent – two or three minutes is enough to get the job done – anything more than this and you’re starting to throw water down the drain.
Install a shower timer so you know when it’s time. Cut it out – you were clean six minutes ago!
3. Install a Water Efficient Shower Head
The Australian government sets a standard for water efficiency using the WELS (Water Efficiency Labelling Standards).
This sets the parameter: a standard shower head uses 15 to 25 litres per minute. A WELS 3-star rated shower head uses 6-7 litres of water per minute.
So if you’re still using that standard shower head, and you’re taking an 8-minute shower – that’s an extra 120 litres of water.
Using an efficient shower head could save you 14,500 litres per household, per year. That’s a massive saving, right?
4. Install a Water Efficient Washing Machine and Dishwasher
A water efficient washing machine uses one-third of the water of an older model.
Dishwashers are the same – they’re also one of the most difficult kitchen appliances to fit yourself.
Many now require hot and cold water access and good drainage and failure to install correctly can end up in extensive property damage and flooding.
Don’t make a mess – call a licensed plumber to put your new money-saving white goods in correctly.
5. Install a Dual Flush Toilet
Replacing a single flush toilet with a dual flush saves 51 litres of water per person per day – that’s 30,000 to 40,000 litres per household per year.
Everyone needs a toilet, but there’s no way you can install a new one by yourself. Call on a licensed Victorian plumber like victorianbathroomcompany.com.au to correctly install the new toilet to minimise the risk of flooding and wasting even more water.
While they’re at it, you could get them to do few more renovations on the old bathroom. Maybe even a rainwater tank?
Let’s be water wise in 2017.