Save Water At Home

Why save water?

Australia is one of the driest continents in the world. With Wyndham City located in one of the lowest rainfall areas across the Greater Melbourne region, water conservation is of vital importance to ensure a secure water supply now and for the future.

Where does our water go?

Homes are the biggest user of Melbourne’s water, with 60% of the water supply being used by households. The breakdown of typical water usage in the home is shown in the pie chart below.

Figure 1. Typical Water Usage at Home

Source: Our Water Our Future - The Next Stage of the Government's Water Plan
(Victorian Government DSE 2007)

Use the Home Water Investigator to find out how much water you use at home.

Reduce Your Water Use At HOME

	1. Install a water efficient showerhead You can save up to 13,500 litres of water per person every year by installing a water efficient showerhead. Click here to find out how to *exchange your showerhead for* free.
	2. Wash with a full load Adjust the water level in your washing machine to suit the size of your load, or better yet wait until you have a full load.
	3. Take a short shower Taking shorter showers will save water and reduce your water costs.
	4. Use a bucket Wash the car using a bucket of water instead of the hose. When waiting for water to get hot in the shower, use a bucket to collect the cold water then use it on your garden or indoor plants.
	5. Don't leave the tap running When cleaning your teeth, turn off the tap between brushing, or better still fill a glass of water to use for rinsing.
	6. Fix leaking taps A dripping tap can waste 20,000 litres of water a year. Usually all that you need to do to stop the leak is to change the washer. If you don’t know how or think it might be a more complex repair, contact your plumber for advice.
	7. Use a plug When rinsing vegetables or washing dishes, use the plug instead of leaving the tap running.
	8. Buy water efficient appliances When buying new appliances, check the water efficiency star rating and remember: the more stars, the more water efficient. Click here to find out more about the national water rating scheme.
	9. Fit aerators on your taps Tap aerators fit onto the end of a tap and, by mixing in air to maintain water pressure, can cut water flow in half! Available from hardware shops, tap flow control aerators are cheap and easy to install.
	10. Install a dual flush toilet A dual flush toilet can save 35,000 litres of water a year. Make the most of City West Water’s Toilet Replacement Program, which can save you money on upgrading your single flush toilet.
	11. Reuse your greywater Greywater is non-toilet household wastewater, for example from your shower or washing machine. There are a number of ways you can use greywater safely around the home. To find out more about the dos and don’ts of greywater use download EPA’s guide.
	12. Install a rainwater tank Reduce your water use and the cost of your water bills but catching the rainfall from your roof! Connecting a rainwater tank to you toilet, laundry or hot water system takes pressure off of our drinking water supplies. For more information click here.

Source: Melbourne Water, ACF (2005) and EPA Victoria (2008)

Reduce Your Water Use In The GARDEN

	1. Choose the right plants Drought tolerant plants need less water and are better suited to our dry climate. Plants indigenous to Wyndham are the best choice as they are well adapted to our local climate.
	2. Remove weeds Weeds compete for water and nutrients. By removing weeds, more nutrients and moisture are available for other plants in your garden. Find out more about weeds here.
	3. Use an efficient watering system Drip irrigation is the most efficient watering method around. Hardly any water is wasted via evaporation or run-off and the slow release makes water easier to absorb. Visit your local hardware store to find the right option for your garden
	4. Water in the cool of the day Up to 40% of water can evaporate if you water your garden during the day. Reduce the amount of water loss by watering in the evening or early morning
	5. Target the roots You can use less water by watering the root area around the base of the plant, instead of the leaves.
	6. Mulch Using mulch will reduce evaporation and increase the water absorption and moisture content of the soil, meaning you can water less often. Mulch is available free of charge to Wyndham residents, on a self serve basis, from the RDF on Wests Road.
	7. Install a rainwater tank The single biggest water saver you can buy is a rainwater tank. A rainwater tank collects the water from your roof and will help keep things green when water restrictions stop you using mains water. For more information click here.