Water is something we tend to take for granted. Turn on a tap or a shower and it's always there.
We use it for drinking, washing, cleaning, cooking, cooling, brushing, flushing and taking care of our gardens. It's a major part of our lives.
While we may assume that it's always available, water is actually our most precious resource. After all, we live on the world's driest continent. And constant use soon adds up - the average person uses 80 to 100 gallons (300-380 litres) per day.
There are environmental reasons to conserve water, such as minimising the effects of drought and water shortages, but there's also a more immediate reason - your water bills.
Here are five easy and mostly inexpensive ways to save on water bills that will guarantee financial and environmental benefits.
1. Leaking Taps Hurt Water Bills
A dripping tap is not only annoying, it can mean a lot of water and money going down the drain.
A single drop of water per second can mean 173 gallons (654 litres) per month, or around 2082 gallons (7880 litres) per year.
Fixing it is as simple as buying a tap repair kit from a hardware store. Even if you're not sure about doing the job yourself, ask a handy friend for help or hire a plumber. It'll be worth it in the long run. Don't forget that a leaking tap might be a minor issue but it can also be a sign of bigger plumbing problems, so if the dripping continues be sure to call a professional plumber.
2. Conserve Water in the Bathroom
There are a number of ways to conserve water in the bathroom.
For a start, take showers rather than baths. That's unless you're taking long showers. If your showers are taking longer than 15 minutes, you may as well be taking a bath. So aim to take showers 10 minutes or less. It might even be a case of timing yourself to increase the efficiency of your showering. Buy a low-flow shower head. It shouldn't be difficult to replace the old shower head but if you need help either ask a friend or hire a plumber.
Don't let the water run while you're cleaning your teeth. That's wasted water going down the drain. Just by turning off the tap until you're ready to rinse can lead to considerable savings.
3. Reduce Water Bills with Dual Flush
If you don't already have one, get a dual-flush system installed in your toilet (or toilets) by a professional plumber.
This allows you to use less water for flushing fluids than you do for solids. And although high-efficiency toilets use less water, they are just as powerful as other models.
An efficient dual-flush system can make a huge difference, saving about 27,000 gallons (102,000 litres) per year. That will probably mean a saving of a complete quarterly water bill.
4. Install a Rainwater Tank
One of the best ways to save on water bills is to collect your own water.
Getting a rainwater tank installed is not overly expensive and will pay for itself quickly. The cost of the tank and installation will vary depending on the size and location of the tank.
You can use this great renewable resource for a number of purposes, including drinking, showering and irrigation. Plumbing to your garden, laundry, toilet and bathroom is obviously a more expensive installation. There are clear environmental benefits and, if there are ever any problems with your water service, you've got a back-up supply. A rainwater tank will also add value to your property.
5. Use the Dishwasher
Most people will like this one - stop washing the dishes by hand.
That's right, you can put away the sponge, scrubber and dishwashing liquid and take it easy.
If you've got an energy efficient dishwasher, you actually conserve water by using it. Washing dishes by hand can use up to 27 gallons (102 litres) of water per load, while a dishwasher can use as little as 3 gallons (11.3 litres) per load. That can mean a significant saving over a period of a year.
While there are many other ways to conserve water and use it wisely - such as choosing appropriate times to water the garden during summer and using greywater (wastewater from sinks, washing machines and showers) for toilet flushing and irrigation - these five tips will get you off to a great start in saving precious water and money.
