Got an unexpected water bill and need to save money? Or maybe you’re concerned about the environmental impact of wasting water, which easily add up to thousands of litres a year. Considering water can be a limited natural resource (especially in Queensland), it’s worth implementing a few practices to minimise the effect of water shortages and reduce a hefty water bill. In today’s article, we look at ‘7 ways to save water’ that won’t break the bank.
7 Water saving tips
Ways to save water #1: Take shorter showers
Taking long showers can really eat your water bill, with each minute saved averaging 9 fewer litres of water used. If you live with many people, this can quickly result in 100s of litres of water used a week – which makes for a very hefty water bill. You can set up a timer, install a shower timer or even invest in a low-pressure showerhead to reduce the amount of water coming out.
Ways to save water #2: Check for leaks
If your water bill is unexpectedly high and there’s no reasonable reason, it may be caused by an unexpected leak. In fact, even one dripping tap can result in over 9,000 litres of water a year, with visible leaks resulting in up to 60,000. To check for leaks, try ensuring nobody uses water for an hour and checking the water meter afterwards to see if it moved. If yes, this could be a sign of a dripping tap, so it’s worth calling a plumber to find the source of the problem.
Ways to save water #3: Use less water to wash dishes
If you wash dishes by hand, try to put water in the sink during the morning and let dishes soak before washing them all at the end of the day. If you use a dishwasher, ensure you only put it on when the entire tray is full and scrape off as much food as possible to reduce the chances of needing another wash.
How to reduce water bill #4: Turn off the tap while brushing teeth
One of the most basic ways to save water, you can easily save several litres of water a day by simply turning off a tap while you brush your teeth. The same line of logic can also be used for washing your hands or face or even when lathering hair with shampoo.
How to save on water bill #5: Water yard in morning or evening
In Queensland, it’s important to regularly water a lawn and garden as the hot weather can quickly dry it out. To extend the time between watering, it’s recommended to water a garden in the morning or evening. This is because the middle of the day is often the hottest, which can result in water getting quickly evaporated by the sun.
Water saving tips #6: Install water saving devices
Your showerhead and toilet can benefit from water saving devices and are often the central points of the home when it comes to excessive water use. This includes flow restrictors, which are becoming increasingly popular and can be fitted to pretty much any shower device, and water-saving toilet systems.
Water saving tips #7: Repurpose water
Though not everyone can afford to have a greywater system installed, there are still plenty of ways you can repurpose water without costing a lot of money. Collecting shower water is relatively easy and involves simply placing a bucket or manually collecting the water if you have a bath. If the shower doesn’t include soap or shampoo, this water can be used for the garden. Or you can even set up a simple rain barrel to collect water that flows from your gutters.
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