In Lake Macquarie, saving water is always important. The good news is that our community is building better water-saving habits. The not-so-good news is that the average household in the Lower Hunter uses 177 litres of water per person daily. Hunter Water states that our goal for a sustainable water future is to aim for 155 litres.
Water usage in our home
Water usage starts with you and your family in your home. Together we can work towards improving our habits and minimising the wastage of our precious local resources. Through droughts, bushfires, and restrictions, our best practice will make a collective difference.
Bathroom water-saving tips
Did you know that aiming for 4-minute showers is the most effective way to save water? Every minute, you can add 15 litres of water! So those teenagers, adding another 10 minutes to their showers, equal 100 litres of water. As a fun way to get started, buy a timer for the shower and set it before they get in. You can also use Hunter Water’s 4-minute shower Spotify playlist.
According to figures from Hunter Water, almost 50% of our water is used in the bathroom. A lot of that water is wasted down the toilet. We taught our children the rhyme ‘If it’s yellow, let it mellow, if it’s brown, flush it down.’ Choosing the half flush can save about five litres of water each time.
Using less water in the kitchen & laundry
Using a dishwasher is definitely the best water-saving idea in the kitchen; however, you need to ensure it’s fully loaded and stacked well. Your dishwasher must be water efficient, or you can look for the WELS rating. The higher the WELS rating, the better. It could save you twice as much water.
Bet you didn’t realise that the average load of washing uses 70 litres of water! Just like the dishwasher, ensure your washing machine has a full load before you put it on. Again, this is where your WELS rating can help you understand your water efficency.
Why greywater is important
It sounds yuck, but greywater is wasted water, especially when we need every drop. It’s the water that runs down the drain when you’re in the shower, bath, or sink. Like when you’re brushing your teeth, and the tap is on. Greywater can be collected and used on your garden and home. Placing a plug in the sink and collecting the water, or a bucket in the shower, is a great way to see how much is wasted.
*NOTE: Greywater is not the water from the toilet or kitchen sink. That’s considered blackwater.
Ways to save more around the house
- Fix any dripping taps.
- Wash your car, boat, or caravan on your lawn.
- Mulch your garden beds and veggie patch.
- Choose native plants for your garden.
- Watering your garden early or late in the day.
- Reduce evaporation from your pool with a pool cover.
- Enjoy a meat-free day at least once a week.
- Buy imperfect fruit and vegetables.
- Buy your clothes at the op shop or hold clothes swap events with friends.
Saving water in Lake Macquarie
In Lake Macquarie, saving water is very achievable. With so many water-saving tips, this is a great start to reduce our usage. These tips are simple ideas that will just become part of your normal routine. How much water do you think you can save this week? This month? This year?
