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Living sustainably means living smarter. Through this site you’ll learn how to reduce your impact on the environment and save money.

Click here to create your 'Next Step' Plan.

Goals:

I want to reduce my water usage

The following tips will help you to achieve this goal.

Small steps

Fix leaking taps

A leaky tap that drips every second can waste 10,000 litres of water a year. This can usually be easily fixed by changing a washer and for hot water, can save $20 - $30 per year on your power bill.

Turn off the tap when you brush your teeth

A tap can discharge up to 10 litres of water per minute. That’s the equivalent of a bucket of water if you left the tap going while brushing your teeth for just one minute. Try using a glass of water to rinse and use the tap just when needed.

Put a plug in the sink when you wash or shave

A running tap can discharge up to 10 litres of water per minute - that’s the equivalent of one whole bucket!

Keep track of your shower time; try to shower for 5 minutes or less

Keeping track of your shower time can have a big impact on water use, even a low flow shower head can use about 35 litres of water per 5 minute shower.

Save water — put a brick in the toilet cistern and reduce its water capacity

Save water and adjust your toilet to reduce the amount of water in the cistern.

Save water and use a bucket to wash your car

Using a bucket to clean the car and a hose to rinse it off uses less water.

If possible, wash the car on the lawn

Washing the car on the lawn waters the grass and stops detergent going down stormwater drains.

Use your dishwasher and/or washing machine on full loads

A full load uses less water and energy per kilogram than a partial one. Try to only use these appliances when they’re full to save overall water use. Visit the WELS and appliance rating systems pages for more information.

Consider taking a shower instead of a bath

Short showers use less energy and water than baths. You can save even more by fitting a low flow shower head.

Medium steps

If you can, install tap aerators to reduce water flow

Tap aerators can reduce the amount of water used while not reducing the pressure.

If you can, install a flow restrictor on your shower head

If you don’t want to change your shower head, fit a flow restrictor – these reduce water flow while still delivering a satisfying shower. They are available from plumbing suppliers for a few dollars and can significantly reduce the volume of water discharged.

Fix leaky toilet cisterns and taps in your home

A leaking cistern can waste up to 16,000 litres of water a year. Put a few drops of food colouring in the cistern between flushes to see whether it leaks into the bowl. Normally changing a washer fixes the problem, and you can do this easily yourself.

If you're changing your showerhead, consider installing a low-flow shower head

Installing a low flow shower head can reduce water flow by nearly half, from 12 litres or more to seven litres a minute saving water and energy.

If you're replacing your toilet cistern, install one with a dual flush

Adjust your existing toilet and retrofit it with a 6 litre/3 litre dual flush cistern.

Capture rain water in a rain barrel for watering the garden and washing cars

A rain barrel in the garden requires no extra plumbing, and some come with a tap for a hose connection.

Choose plants that suit your local climate and soil conditions to reduce watering

This minimises watering needs. Native plants are best adapted to New Zealand conditions.

Use mulch on the garden to reduce watering

Make a water friendly garden by mulching around plants or digging mulch into the soil surface to hold water near the plant roots in dry weather.

Consider attending a Sustainable Living course

Sustainable Living courses are offered throughout the country and provide practical methods and tips to living sustainably in your home. Some of the topics include: transport, organic gardening, saving water and shopping choices. To find out more, and where your closest course is visit Sustainable Living evening courses and introductory workshop sessions.

Big steps

If you're installing a new toilet, choose a dual flush

When buying a new toilet look for the most water efficient one. A 6 litre/3 litre dual flush is good, a 4.5 litre/3 litre flush is even better. They cost from around $200 upwards.

Choose a water efficient washing machine and/or dishwasher

Until recently, front loading washing machines used less water than top loading machines, but modern top-loaders have much-improved water efficiency. See appliance rating systems for more information.

Choose water efficient products and appliances

Choose water efficient appliances and products, such as washing machines, dishwashers, shower heads, toilets and taps for your new home. See the water efficiency rating scheme page for more information.