On this page:

• What is greywater?
• Greywater treatment systems
• Which greywater option suits you?
• Safety of greywater
• Best laundry detergents for greywater systems
• The legal stuff around greywater
• Greywater gardening
• Tips for greywater use

What is greywater?

• Greywater is the waste water from showers, baths, spas, handbasins, laundry tubs and washing machines.Ìý
• Water from dishwashers and kitchen sinks is often referred to as dark greywater, because it has a higher load of chemicals, fats and other organic matter.Ìý
• Water from toilets is called blackwater.Ìý

It’s estimated that just over half of household water used could be recycled as greywater, saving potentially hundreds of litres of water per day.

There are two types of systems to recycle greywater:

Diversion devices

Diversion devices simply carry greywater from your bathroom or washing machine directly to your garden or toilet, without treating it. Components may include:

Hose

Greywater is diverted from its source to the garden using a simple flexible hose.

Diverter valves

For around $30 you can install a switch that allows you to choose when the water flows to your garden and when it flows to the sewer.

Closed-loop system

This diverts greywater to your toilet rather than your garden, but isn’t approved in some states.

Surge tank

This stores the brunt of the outflow so your greywater won’t flood the garden, or worse, the house. You need to remove sludge from the tank every six months or so, and it should also have an overflow device to divert excess water into the sewer.

Filters

These remove hair and other large particles from the water so they don’t clog up your irrigation pipes. Filters need regular cleaning and need replacing every 6 to 12 months.

Pump

This may be necessary to get water to all parts of your garden, especially if gravity’s not on your side. You’ll need a power source, which may mean getting an outdoor power point installed.

Cost

The more complex greywater diverters range from several hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on what you need in the way of pumps and surge tanks, irrigation equipment and the suitability of your existing plumbing. You’ll also need the services of a licensed plumber, and will most likely need to alert authorities that you have a greywater system in place.

Greywater treatment systems

These systems collect and treat (and some disinfect) the water to various levels of purity and hygiene. Several stages are involved in the treatment of water:

• Filtration of solids (lint and hair).
• Removal of pathogens and unwanted chemicals (such as salts and nutrients) using either micro-organisms or chemical treatment.
• Disinfection by chlorination or UV light, though not all systems do this.

Treated water can be used in washing machines and toilets, as well as on the garden. If you don’t have much garden to water, or if you don’t need to water it in all seasons, this sort of system may be a more useful option as you can use the water elsewhere.

Cost

Basic treatment systems cost around $4000. Systems that treat greywater to ‘Class A’ level (which is considered safe for watering plants intended for eating, but not for drinking or preparing food) cost from around $10,000 up to well over $20,000, including installation.Ìý

Bear in mind you’ll also need to pay ongoing maintenance costs, to cover regular service call-outs and filter replacements.

Installation costs tend to escalate if a lot of extra plumbing is required (if your bathroom andÌýlaundryÌýpipes are spread all around the house, say) or if pipes are in a concrete slab.

The amount and location of water storage can also affect costs. Installing a system when building a new house (or doing major renovations) tends to be cheaper than retrofitting one.

The cost of mains water in Australian cities is so low that you’re unlikely to ever recoup the cost of a greywater treatment system.Ìý

On the other hand, if you consider that a garden makes up about 10% of the value of your home, you might think the cost of a treatment system to keep your garden (and home value) growing during water restrictions is worthwhile.

Which greywater option suits you?

If you have access to mains water, it’s unlikely you’ll want to bother with greywater recycling unless you really want to do your bit for the environment, or if you don’t have aÌýrainwater tank.Ìý

But if you don’t have access to mains water, or you produce a lot of greywater thanks to a large household, it could be worth investing in some sort of greywater recycling system.

The system that best suits will depend on your situation.

Big garden (fruit or ornamentals)

The cheapest and simplest solution is to get a diverter and send water to the lawn or garden through sub-surface irrigation pipes. However, a higher level of treatment will be safer and give you more options.

Vegetable gardening

If you want to water herbs and vegetables you’ll need to get a higher level of water treatment. Untreated greywater should definitely not be used on food that will be eaten raw.

Small or no garden

If you produce a lot of greywater but don’t have much garden, you could get a treatment system that allows the water to be used in your toilet and/or washing machine.

Drought-affected supply

If you live in a drought-affected part of the country and/or have to rely on rainwater for your household water supply, a greywater treatment system could help a lot.Ìý

If plumbed into your toilet and washing machine, you’ll save precious drinking water. It will also reduce the load on septic tanks or drought-stressed waterways. (You might also consider a waste water treatment system that handles blackwater as well as greywater.)

You want the whole green shebang

Installing a greywater treatment system will reduce how much water you use and reduce the amount of waste going into the sewerage system.Ìý

While it won’t necessarily save you much money, you’ll get that warm fuzzy feeling knowing you’re helping the environment.

Safety of greywater

There are limits to what you can do with untreated greywater because of the chemicals and bacteria in it, but treated greywater is somewhat safer to use.

• Untreated greywater should only be used for sub-surface garden irrigation – that is, through a network of pipes buried at least 1m below the ground – to reduce the risk of human or animal contact.
• Pipes carrying untreated greywater must display relevant warning labels.
• You can’t store untreated greywater, because the bacteria and other pathogens could multiply to dangerous levels.
• Use it immediately (or within 24 hours), and if it’s raining, divert it to the sewer.
• If someone in your family is sick with gastro or flu or another contagious disease, stop using the greywater.
• Don’t use greywater if you’ve been washingÌýnappiesÌýor using bleaches or dyes.
• Don’t water herbs, vegetables or pot plants with untreated greywater.
• Your greywater shouldn’t escape from your property into a neighbouring one, into stormwater systems or aquifers used for drinking water — in fact it’s illegal.

Greywater is a complex substance and there are many things to consider if you’re to use it safely and to maximum benefit. WaterNSW has information aboutÌýÌý(including greywater), and aÌýÌýto installing these.

Best laundry detergents for greywater systems

ÌÇÐÄVlog tested washing machine run-off for chemicals that could harm garden plants and contaminate soil. See ourÌýlaundry detergent reviewsÌýto find out which detergents we recommend for greywater reuse.

• Some laundry detergent products whose names imply they’re environmentally friendly could in fact cause problems if used on your garden. See our report for more.
• The components most likely to cause problems are phosphorus, salinity, sodium, and pH.
• Small amounts of phosphorus can be useful for plants, and it’s a major component of fertiliser. When it gets into waterways, however, it can cause excessive algal growth, leading to toxic algal blooms. The effect on your soil is varied depending on your soil type. Clay soils can deal with more phosphorus because the phosphorus binds to clay minerals and doesn’t leach away. On sandy soils, excess phosphorus can leach into groundwater. Australian soils are typically low in phosphorus, and some native species can’t tolerate high levels.
• All laundry detergents contain salts, typically sodium salts such as sodium nitrate, sodium sulphate, sodium phosphate and sodium silicate. All laundry detergents are highly saline, and frequent long-term use would likely harm your garden, unless it was spread over a large area.
• Sodium is particularly detrimental not only to plants, but soil. It affects the soil’s permeability and causes a loss of structural stability.
• Laundry detergents are highly alkaline (that is, have a high pH). A pH higher than 10 helps dissolve organic dirt, such as grease, oils and food scraps. Most biological systems prefer a pH between 6 and 9, so greywater with a high pH is likely to harm many plants and soil organisms.
• Potential impacts are very much dose-dependent — try reducing the amount of detergent you use, providing it still gets your clothes acceptably clean.
• Water fromÌýfront-loading washing machinesÌýtends to have a high concentration of detergent, so unless you’re willing to use less than the recommended amount and compromise on the ‘cleanliness’ of your clothes, we wouldn’t recommend using the wash water on your garden. The amount of rinse water may not be enough to make it worthwhile (about 30 to 50L per cycle — enough to water about two square metres of garden).

The legal stuff around greywater

Different laws apply to greywater use, depending on which area you live in. Anyone can set up their own basic diversion system (check the safety warnings above), but if you’re considering installing a greywater treatment system, you’ll need to:

• consult a licensed plumber for advice on the best system for your needs
• ask your local council if you’re eligible for any green rebates
• consult your sewerage removal authority if you intend to redirect all or a major part of your used water
• check with your water supply authority and inform them of any changes to your plumbing.

Before you order any greywater diverter or treatment system, you need to check that it’s accredited by your state health or environment department. It’s unfortunate, and perhaps ironic, that although anyone can pipe their contaminant-loaded washing machine and bath water onto the garden, systems that provide a better level of treatment mean more bureaucratic dealings.

Greywater gardening

By far the easiest way to use your greywater is on the garden. When you’re calculating how much greywater you can put on your garden, reckon on about 20L per square metre per watering.Ìý

The frequency of watering depends on the local climate, rainfall and the season, while the amount of water per square metre depends on soil type (20L is for loam soils).

Using these average figures though, the average person produces enough greywater to water 35 square metres of lawn or garden once a week.

So, to work out how many square metres of garden you can supply with greywater:

• EITHER calculate the amount of greywater produced by your household each week, and divide it by 20
• OR take the number of people in your household, and multiply by 35.

Tips for greywater use

• Keep an eye on the health of your plants. Greywater tends to be high in chemicals that alter the structure of the soil, and it also tends to be overused.
• Bear in mind: sick looking plants could be suffering from overwatering, rather than the chemicals in the greywater.
• Give your plants a break by using rainwater (if you have a rainwater tank) or tap water every six weeks.
• Use compost to increase the organic content of your soil, improve its structure and help it survive the chemical onslaught.
• If your greywater is untreated, don’t use it to water edible plants or indoor plants.

The post A guide to greywater systems appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• How to save water in the bathroom
• How to save water in the kitchen
• How to save water in the laundry
• How to save water outside the house

Some water experts say that by reducing water use by 50 litres per person per day, we could delay or completely avoid the need for new water provision infrastructure (for example, new dams or desalination plants), and even lift restrictions.

If you’re keen to help, there are plenty of steps you can take at home. Here, we explain how to limit your household’s water use in the bathroom, kitchen, laundry and outdoors.ÌýWe also explain how to use household greywater without ruining your garden.

How to save water in the bathroom

The shower

It’s easy to save water in the shower by making a few simple changes:

• Cut your shower time to four minutes or less.
• Get a water-saving showerhead.
• Install an easy on/off switch.

Water-saving shower heads

See our buying guide for advice about finding the right water-saving shower head for your home. Note that some continuous flow (aka “instantaneous”) hot water systems, and some gravity-fed systems such as solar hot water systems with rooftop tanks, may not have a sufficient flow-rate for these shower heads to work properly. Check with the retailer to see if your system is suitable.

Flow restrictors

If you don’t want to change your showerhead for décor reasons, you can install a flow restrictor instead. Even getting a shower timer can help reduce the amount of time spent showering by making you more aware of how long you’re taking: the average shower is about seven minutes, but it doesn’t have to take that long to soap up and rinse off.

Switch off to save

Simply turning off the shower momentarily while you’re soaping up, shampooing or shaving – when you don’t actually need the water flow – then turning the water back on to rinse off can save a lot of water; potentially up to half the amount you’d usually use.

Mixer tap levers make this pretty easy, but if that’s not an option for you, you could consider an on/off switch such as the . It’s a lever that you can install at the base of your shower stem, allowing you to stop and start the flow of water quickly and easily. It doesn’t suit all showers though, so check yours is compatible before you buy.

Quench shower

If you’re renovating your bathroom, you might consider installing a Quench recycling shower. After you’ve soaped up and rinsed off, four litres of clean water is recirculated through the system for as long as you care to stand there – a guilt-free way to enjoy a long hot shower without the waste.

Top tips for showers

• While waiting for the shower water to warm up, save the cold water in a bucket and use it for the garden, pot plants, laundry soaking, washing your hands or even flushing the toilet. A plastic or fabric folding bucket (such as you can find in camping supply shops) is handy because it folds up for you to store out of the way. You can also use it to scoop water out of the bath and onto the garden.Ìý
• Shaving your legs in the shower adds about four minutes to your shower — that’s 36L with a water-efficient shower head. Consider waterless hair removal, such as waxing or an epilator, or lather up and shave your legs with the shower water off before rinsing.Ìý
• Take the No Shampoo Challenge. In 2007, ABC radio personality and newspaper columnist Richard Glover set out to discover whether he could live without shampoo, thereby allowing the natural oils in his hair to regain their balance and give him lovely fluffy hair. Hundreds of listeners joined him in the challenge, using only warm water to vigorously rinse their hair as necessary. At the end of the six-week trial, 86% decided their hair was great. (Other proponents of the method use “natural” ingredients such as baking soda and apple cider vinegar, but less often than shampoo.) How long do you spend shampooing your hair, rinsing it out, then putting conditioner in and rinsing that out? Two minutes? Three minutes? Five minutes? By taking the Challenge you could save time, water, and the money you’d spend on shampoo.

Top tips for taps

• Install water-efficient taps, known as aerators, which give the feel of a high flow-rate with only half the water. They’re simply screwed onto the end of a tap and reduce the flowrate while aerating the water.
• Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth. It seems so obvious, but many people still leave the water running, wasting at least 5L per minute. That’s around 11,000L per person per year.

The toilet

Replacing your whole toilet may not be worthwhile unless you’re renovating the bathroom. But if you’re going to install a new toilet anyway, make sure you get a modern dual-flush 6/3L (or 4.5/3L) cistern and pan.

The least efficient dual-flush cistern is the 9L/4.5L, but if you want to update an old-style single-flush toilet (typically a 12L flush) with a dual-flush cistern, it’s your only option as these older toilets can’t be fitted with the more-efficient cisterns.

If replacing your cistern isn’t an option, you could install a device to stop the toilet flushing when you take your finger off the button. This means you hold it down only for as long as it takes to flush the contents of the bowl away, saving any unnecessary flush water. They cost as little as $10 and can be installed by the home handyperson. If you’re not very handy or you’re renting, you could just use this old trick: put a brick (or a plastic bottle full of water) in the cistern and you’ll use less water for each flush.

How to save water in the kitchen

Washing the dishes

Dishwashers these days generally use a lot less water than they used to – often less than washing dishes by hand in the sink. The average water consumption of a dishwasher in our tests is about 13L. Conservative estimates of handwashing show at least 20L is used. Less conservative scenarios go as high as 90L (presumably involving lots of running water being wasted).

If you’re in the market for a new model, check out the water efficiency of models in our most recent dishwasher reviews.

Top tips for dishwashers

You can save water by not rinsing plates before putting them in the dishwasher. ÌÇÐÄVlog tests each dishwasher’s washing performance by getting it to wash a load of dishes and cutlery coated with food that’s been left to dry overnight – spinach, crusty cereal, egg yolk, all the usual suspects.ÌýAs most machines now effectively get these clean on a ‘normal’ program, there’s no need to waste water by rinsing plates before you stack – just scrape the food scraps off first.

If you do pre-rinse (say, because you don’t run the machine every day), try using the dishwasher on its ‘fast’ program, which uses less water. You’re likely to find it washes just as well.

Top tips for handwashing dishes

Rinsing dishes under a running tap isn’t necessary and wastes a lot of water. To rinse drinking glasses, wash them first while the sink is still filling and rinse them under the hot running water.Ìý

When you’ve finished washing up, tip a pot of rinse water over the plates and cutlery as they stand in the dish drainer. If you have a double sink, half fill one (the smaller one, if applicable) with hot clean water and dip anything you think needs a rinse.

Hot water recirculation

If you have taps a long way from the hot water system, chances are you waste a lot of water letting the cold water run through before it warms up.

A hot water recirculation systemÌýintercepts the cold waterÌýbefore it goes out of the tap and pumps it through the cold water inlet into the hot water tank. So when you want hot water, you activate the system (by pushing a button), and once the thermostat detects that the water is warm enough, the pump switches off, you turn the tap on and hot water comes out. The pump uses very little energy, as it’s only on for those few seconds when you need it.

We came across models ranging from around $450 to $900 (plus installation). They’re more elegant (though a lot more expensive!) than using a bucket to catch the cool water.

How to save water in the laundry

Washing machines

Front loaders typically use a lot less water than top loaders. They can be more expensive initially, but you may be entitled to water retailer rebates. See our washing machine reviews for information on water efficiency of all models.Ìý

Some washing machines rate well for water efficiency at the expense of rinsing well. If you choose a washing machine for its water efficiency according to the WELS label, you might be disappointed when you use it. Luckily, we come to your rescue by testing the machines for rinse performance too. We recommended models that score well for both water efficiency and rinse performance.Ìý

Reusing washing machine water

We commissioned a chemical analysis of laundry detergents to determine their suitability for the lawn or garden in greywater from your washing machine. The detergents that got clothes cleanest were generally too high in sodium, salinity and pH (alkalinity) to be much good for your garden, especially over the long term. And unfortunately, most of those safest for the garden didn’t wash clothes very well.

So don’t use the wash water on your garden, just the rinse water. And spread the water over a wide area, keeping it off your herbs and vegies, and your garden should be fine. See our grey water guideÌýfor more information.

Washer/dryers

CombinedÌýwasher/dryersÌýmay seem like a great idea, especially if you’re pushed for space, but they use a lot of water for drying. Instead of turning the water in the clothes into hot, damp air (like conventional dryers do), they condense the steam back to water and send the lot down the drain – using a lot of water in the meantime.

A front loader with a normalÌýdryerÌýon top is just as space-saving (in terms of the footprint if not the height!), almost certainly more water-efficient, and probably cheaper, but you need to be able to vent the hot, damp air from the dryer out of your laundry.

How to save water outside the house

Washing the car

When cleaning your car at home, remember to clean on the lawn if you have one; or, if you don’t want to damage your lawn with the weight of the car, wash on the driveway and direct the waste to the lawn with barriers.

The average bucket and sponge wash uses 100L of water, or the equivalent of 10 buckets per wash, according to Sydney Water. We managed an effective bucket and sponge wash on a small/medium-sized car with just two buckets, though, using a watering can to rinse the car.

If you’re washing your car with a hose, a trigger nozzle is a legal requirement in some states as it helps to reduce water use – you can turn the water flow off when you’re sponging the car, rather than letting it drain as you’d have to with a traditional hose.

Washing your car with a hose and trigger nozzle will use approximately 120L of water, while an ordinary hose can use anywhere from 150L to 500L per wash.

Alternatively, using a low-flow high-pressure car cleaner only uses approximately 23L of water. These devices are relatively easy to use, and also help to remove dirt alongside sponging, so they make the job even faster. While we found that the manufacturers’ claims about the amount of water used were underestimated, they were still efficient when compared with other methods.

Rainwater tanks

There are plenty of benefits to installing a rainwater tank, and you don’t need to live in a wet or tropical area to reap the rewards. South Australia, the country’s driest state, has the highest rate of rainwater tank use. More than half the households there have one, and for more than a third it’s their main source of drinking water.

With a rainwater tank, you’ll:

• collect most of the rain (around 80%) that falls onto the areas of your roof that are connected to gutters and downpipes into your tank. For example, if 10mm of rain falls on to 100m2 of roof, you’ll harvest about 800L of rainwater. That’s about as much as an average Sydney household of three would use in a day if they made no efforts to save water. (If they did, they’d get their consumption down to around 500–600L a day)
• reduce your consumption of mains water and, in the long term, cut your water bill. Your water supplier may be able to give you an indication of the savings you can expect
• lower your impact on the environment by reducing your demand on mains water as well as the amount of stormwater runoff into rivers and oceans
• harvest water that tastes better and is generally less salty, which is better for appliances and plants.

The post How to save water in the bathroom, kitchen, laundry and more appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

The internet is full of life hacks that can save you time, money, energy, sanity… you name it, it’s out there. But not all of them stack up. And when it comes to saving water, it’s important to know what works and what doesn’t, especially if you live in an area with water restrictions, or simply want to cut down on your water bill.

You might already know that practical things such as installing low-flow showerheads, using water-efficient washing machines and watering your garden first thing in the morning (while it’s still cool, to minimise evaporation), are good ways to save water.Ìý

But what about those weird and wacky water-saving ideas you might have heard about in passing or read about online? Could spray-painting your lawn or showering with your partner really save you water? We take a closer look.

1. Shower with your partner

The idea here is to save water (up to 9L/water per minute) by cutting down on the number of showers your household takes. But surely getting soapy and steamy with your significant other is, well, unlikely to lead to shorter showers…?

And even if you do keep your hands to yourselves, there’s still the issue of having to share the one showerhead, meaning you have to take turns to get the shampoo out of your hair (and eyes) and rinse everything else off, carefully shuffling around each other in a confined space.Ìý(Not to mention the fact you’ll almost always be resentful when it’s your partner’s turn under the hot water as you turn into a cold, shivering mess.) Again, this taking of turns is unlikely to lead to shorter showers.Ìý

Verdict: A fun option, but not so great for saving water. Stick to limiting your solo showers to four minutes instead.

2. Put a brick in your toilet cistern

You might have heard that you can make your toilet more eco-friendly by putting a brick in the cistern, which reduces the amount of water it uses to fill and flush it.Ìý

The first thing to know is you should never use an ordinary house brick, as these can disintegrate over time and damage your toilet.

Instead, you could try Drop-A-Brick, which was designed especially for toilets by an environmentally conscious movement in California in 2014.

The cheeky ad campaign shows ordinary people sitting on their toilets, talking earnestly about how they’d each “dropped a brick” to save water. Eventually, they hold up the branded brick with ‘Drop-A’ embossed on the front.Ìý

Verdict: It works, but Drop-A-Brick advises against using it with high-efficiency toilets because you won’t get a proper flush. Another alternative is to use an old water bottle full of water or pebbles, which can do the same job.Ìý

3. Lick your plates before putting them in the dishwasher

The idea here is that licking your plates clean will save you from having to rinse them before loading them in the dishwasher.

Too dignified for that? Get your dog to lick them instead! (Though remember that certain foods are unsafe for dogs.) Your pooch will love you for it, you could save money on how much dog food you have to buy, and the dishwasher will kill any bugs hanging around in Fido’s mouth.Ìý

Verdict: This isn’t a bad idea from a food-waste perspective, but when it comes to saving water, it’s completely unnecessary. Most dishwashers are now designed so that you don’t need to rinse your crockery before you wash. Just scrape off any food scraps first and make sure you load the dishwasher properly.

4. Freeze your jeans

According to one of the most popular water-saving hacks on the internet, you can get away with washing your jeans less regularly without ending up smelling like the bottom of a gym bag by putting them in the freezer when you’re not wearing them.Ìý

Apparently, this kills the germs that cause bad smells, and leaves your jeans fresh and clean the next time you wear them. Once you’ve thawed them out, that is.

Verdict: The Smithsonian magazine debunked the jeans-in-the-fridge theory back in 2011, stating that many bacteria can survive low temperatures and that “it takes only one survivor to repopulate your jeans when they warm up”.

But the good news is that you shouldn’t wash your jeans too often anyway if you want to preserve the fabric and dye. Even the CEO of Levi Strauss says you shouldn’t put jeans in the washing machine, and encourages people to spot clean or hand wash them instead.

5. Install… shower spikes?

Having trouble limiting your shower time to just a few minutes? London-based French designer Elisabeth Buecher created the perfect solution: ‘Spiky’ is an inflatable-spike-lined shower curtain that lets you shower in peace for up to four minutes.Ìý

Once your time’s up, it fills the shower with large spikes made from coloured plastic to force you out of the cubicle or tub.ÌýThey don’t hurt you, but they do take up all the available space and make it practically impossible to carry on showering.Ìý

Verdict: Sadly, this isn’t a product but an art installation, so if you wanted to use it, you’d realistically have to make one yourself. An easier option might be to time your shower to a song – Spotify even has a handy to guide you.

6. Paint your lawn green (no, really)ÌýÌý

Depending on where you live, you may have to stick to certain restrictions when it comes to when and how often you can water your lawn. And unless you get it just right, this can often lead to bare spots, brown patches and generally grungy-looking grass.Ìý

Enter lawn paints such as Lawn Solutions Australia’s ColourGuard – a natural plant-based pigment you can apply to drought- and frost-damaged grass to have it looking lush in no time, and all with very little water.

According to the manufacturer, the paint is safe for children and pets, won’t rub or wash off once it’s dried after the first application, and will last until the grass grows out again.Ìý

Verdict: Yes, it sounds ridiculous – and we haven’t tested it – but if a green lawn is important to you, this could be a good option for achieving one and helping you save water at the same time.Ìý

7. Swap your dog for a cat

When it comes to saving water, the cat versus dog debate appears to fall firmly on the side of felines.Ìý

After all, dogs tend to get muddier and messier than cats, so you use more water cleaning up after them, while cats generally use less water since they never need a bath – that’s what their tongues are for, after all. They also tend to be smaller than most dogs, and have extremely efficient kidneys, so tend to drink less water too.

Verdict: If you’re wavering between getting a cat or a dog, water use might be worth weighing up. But if you’re a bonafide dog person, this is one water-saving tip you can safely ignore.Ìý

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It’s not surprising that we use the most water in the laundry and bathroom, with the biggest culprits being washing machines, showers, taps and toilets.

As we experience drier weather and below-average rainfall in many parts of Australia, it’s more important than ever that we become more aware of how much water we’re using – and wasting – every day.Ìý

Whether you’re in a small inner-city apartment or on a sprawling property, there are simple things you can do to that will save water and really make a difference.

1. Water-audit your washing machine

Get up close and personal with the water-efficiency of your washing machine – different models can vary widely.Ìý

ÌÇÐÄVlog household expert Ashley Iredale says: “Front-loading washing machines are far more water-efficient than top loaders, using up to 70% less water.”Ìý

And if you want to choose the most water-efficient appliances, avoid washer-dryer combos.Ìý

ÌÇÐÄVlog household expert Ashley Iredale

“Washer-dryer combos are huge water-wasting culprits – that’s because in addition to the water they use to actually wash your clothes, they surprisingly also use a staggering amount of water to dry them. This could be up to as much as 210 litres per cycle just to remove around 4 litres of water from your clothes,” says Ashley.

If you’re buying a new machine, check out ourÌýwashing machine reviewsÌýto make sure you’re buying the best performing, most water-efficient machine you can (we test for both water efficiency and rinse performance, as some machines that rate well for water efficiency don’t rinse as effectively).Ìý

ÌÇÐÄVlog tip: If you can’t change your current washer to a more water-efficient model, only run full loads and use the eco-setting or water-saving program if there is one.Ìý

2. Quit doing the dishes!

Music to your ears, right? Just to be clear, we mean you should be stacking the dishwasher, instead of doing dishes old-school-style in the sink.Ìý

“Using a fully loaded dishwasher is far more water efficient than handwashing in the sink with a running tap,”ÌýAshley says.Ìý

“The average water consumption of dishwashers we’ve tested is about 13L per wash, whereas studies have shown hand washing the equivalent of a fully loaded dishwasher takes around 100 litres on average.”Ìý

Using the eco-setting will also conserve water.

ÌÇÐÄVlog tip: Save yourself even more time by not rinsing plates before putting them in the dishwasher – our testing shows that it makes little difference even when food is ‘crusted on’.Ìý

3. Get toilet (re)trainedÌý

Every time you flush, you use up to 9L of water, depending on the efficiency of your toilet. That adds up to hundreds or even thousands of litres per year.Ìý

A simple step to reduce the water used by your loo is to use the half-flush option wherever possible. And don’t be shy about not flushing every time: we won’t judge if you use the “if it’s yellow, let it mellow…” method!Ìý

Old-style single flush toilets can use up to a huge 12L of water per flush. If you have one of these and you can’t upgrade, you can install a device to stop the toilet flushing when you take your finger off the button (you can get them from the hardware store for around $10). Or you can use the old trick of putting a brick (or a plastic bottle full of water) in the cistern which will use less water each flush.Ìý

If you’re renovating your bathroom or you need a new toilet, consider options such as a model with an integrated hand basin above the cistern (the water you use to wash your hands is used for the next flush instead of going down the drain).

ÌÇÐÄVlog tip: Avoid using your toilet as a garbage disposal and don’t flush tissues or wipes – they cause havoc with sewerage systems, and you’re wasting water.

4. Harness your (water-saving) shower powerÌý

Simply taking a shorter shower is an obvious water-saving tip, but the difference you can make depends hugely on your shower head.Ìý

Current models typically pump out anywhere from 6L/minute to 9L/minute – so cutting your shower down from 8 minutes to 4 minutes could save around 250L of water a week!Ìý

Or, you could do as a Brazilian environmental group suggested in a national campaign back in 2009 and save water on flushing by doing your, ahem, number ones, in the shower. If that’s a step too far for you (we understand), check outÌýour guide to water-saving shower heads.Ìý

ÌÇÐÄVlog tip: Time how long it takes to fill an empty 1-litre drink container at the tap. Compare this with how long you leave the tap running while you wash your face or brush your teeth. This should give you a good idea of how much water you’re using – and prompt you to cut down.

5. Re-use and recycle

We don’t recommend reusing untreated wash water from your washing machine on the garden (due to the potential chemicals from your detergents), but you can definitely re-use the cleaner rinse water.Ìý

Just stop your washing machine before it drains the water, and siphon it out into a bucket using a plastic tube (find out more about reusing greywater).

If you have a condenser or heat pump dryer, you can use the water collected when drying your laundry to water the garden.Ìý

In the bathroom, you can use a bucket to collect the running water while your shower warms up.Ìý

And don’t pour the water leftover from cooking pasta, eggs or vegetables down the drain – use it to water your plants. Every little bit helps.

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