Water Saving Basics...
From 1 July 2006, it has been mandatory across Australia for showers, clothes washing machines, dishwashers, toilet equipment, urinal equipment and tap equipment intended for use over kitchen sinks, bathroom basins, laundry tubs or ablution troughs, to carry a WELS Water Rating label when they are offered for sale. An example of the label is shown.
For further information about the WELS scheme or to search for products which carry a water rating label, Click here
~oOo~
It’s a subsidised service that sees a licensed plumber come to your home and fit all the necessary equipment and devices needed to ensure water conservation. These include cheap items for a few dollars and free advice.
Whilst not active in all states yet, here are a few tips to remind you of just how easy it is to save hundreds of thousands of litres each year (collectively), by fitting things like a water aerator to your sink tap, for just $5.00 (individually)… You not only CAN make a Difference... YOU DO.
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Bathrooms .. (Norm and Mal, this may interest you)…
* Savings based on 125 litre storage electric hot water system operating at 60 degrees Celsius
Water Efficient Shower Heads :
You can save around 21,000 litres of water every year just by fitting a water efficient showerhead.
~Install a water efficient ‘3 Star’ rated showerhead and you’ll save on your water bill and your energy bill.
~Don’t let the tap run when brushing your teeth or shaving.
Your Toilet :
Each water saving device will save on average 3 litres of water (approximately 33% of the cistern volume) every time a toilet is flushed. Independent research has shown the water saving device will provide a 10-15% saving on total water use.
If you don’t already have one, install a dual flush toilet. You’ll save up to 8 litres of water every time you use the half flush instead of the full flush. Look for water efficient toilets.
Kitchen .. (for all the cooks and AquaMaids out there)…
~Half fill the sink to rinse dishes or clean fruit and vegetables. A running tap uses up to 20 litres of water per minute.
~Wait until you have a full load before turning on the dishwasher and use a water saving setting. A dishwasher uses between 16 and 32 litres per load.
~When buying a dishwasher, choose a water efficient model. Look for labelling.
Laundry.. (definitely a message for Ash, here *smiling)..
*Washing machines use up to 120 litres of water per load.
~When using the washing machine, make sure each cycle is a full load, or adjust the water level to suit the size of the load.
Outdoors … for all nature lovers like me…
~More than one third of household water use occurs in the garden.
~Always use a bucket or watering can when washing your car or watering the garden.
Use a broom to sweep paved outdoor areas.
~Try to water as late or as early as possible to reduce evaporation.
Design your garden to save water:
~Minimise lawn areas and plant water efficient native trees and plants.
Use drought resistant grass for lawns.
~Plan your paths to direct water runoff to the garden beds.
~Create more shade and shelter in your garden. This will reduce heat and provide more wind protection which will help save water.
~Install a rainwater tank to use as an alternative to the City’s water supply.
~Use a pool cover to prevent evaporation and reduce the need to regularly top up your pool’s water level.
~oOo~
So far 45,276 people have booked in a service call with The Queensland WaterWise Home Service initiative. State-wide, that's an estimated 924,000,000 litres of water per year, already saved...
Just an excuse to use this picture ... again ...
~oOo~
Global Water statistics…
Globally, almost 70 per cent of all available freshwater is used for agriculture. Over-pumping of groundwater by the world's farmers, exceeds natural replenishment, by at least 160 billion cubic metres a year. It takes an enormous amount of water to produce crops: one to three cubic metres to yield just one kilo of rice, and 1,000 tons of water to produce just one ton of grain.
Land in agricultural use has increased by 12 per cent since the 1960s to about 1.5 billion hectares. Current global water withdrawals for irrigation are estimated at about 2,000 to 2,555 km³ per year. Pasture and crops take up 37 per cent of the Earth's land area.
Poor drainage and irrigation practices have led to saline build-up in about 30 million hectares of the world's 240 million hectares of irrigated land, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). A combination of salinisation and water-logging, now affects another 80 million hectares.
Always Eighteen
what's your opinion of the plan to drink recycled water?
Medicinal Nature
I love that picture of the water droplets. Gorgeous!
W
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
excellent post...it is scary how much we waste in our homes isn`t it? In my old hometown water restrictions are now at 450L per household per day....ouch!
Just to add to your list...although I heard in Australia it is illegal to reuse bathwater? But we used to have a 44-gallon drum outside the bathroom window and use a section of piping to syphon that water out for use around the garden and plants in the home. Obviously you have to be careful what you use in the bath...but that is a huge water saving too. And rainwater tanks...I know you use one, they are hugely important.
Someone was telling me this weekend that with the amount of water that has lashed down on the Sunshine Coast in rain that has gone uncollected we have already lost 10 years water supply...was it this month? or maybe this year? That is shocking!!! Men in Govt need to stop showy lunches that cause Sydney to come to a grinding halt and spend time thinking about this sort of thing.....
love the picture btw....
fascinating read
ash
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I don't like it one bit. I am fortunate in that I own my own home and we put in a rain tank to collect all our drinking water. I had forgotten how sweet real water tasted. Maybe we all have, living in the cities so long?
However, having said that, I have always used a bench top water filter, or even a Britta Water Filter jug - to filter out 99% impurities - before I could afford the deluxe model. I still do, even with the purer rainwater. I think they are the best investment we can make for our health. They are cheap to run and efficient, and the electric models even chill the water too. I have one that heats it as well. Pretty nifty huh? … but it’s more than that... it’s necessary, in today's world.
Drinking Poo-water is not new in large cities. Canberra's effluent has been treated with microbiological bacteria for years. The end result is good pure clean water that is allowed to flow back into the water catchment-table for 're-use,' upstream. Cities all over the world have this system in play. I'm not sure about Brisbane's version though, haven’t been much said publicly, but my understanding is, it's going to be based on high-pressured, fast filtering? Makes me wonder what the FDA and agencies like it, REALLY allow as the 'safe' limit?
My advice, get a Britta water filter jug, regardless of where you live and how much the water is supposedly 'safe' ...
Thanks for the compliment and comment.
Lilla ...
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It is so lovely to see you again, not that I don't when I'm reading your great advice on Medicinal Nature.
I really appreciate the compliment and am thrilled you got something practical out of this post...
cheers...
Lilla ...
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...that's great news and makes you feel good too. *lol* I can remember when I first thought about the amount of water I let run down the sink, whilst I brished my teeth. Now I am so conscious of it, I never forget to turn the tap off whilst brushing.
Our dishwasher packed it in about two weeks ago and we're waiting on a new element. We've been washing dishes in the sink, after homework, sometimes as late as 10pm - previously unheard of for us lot... exhausting, but somehow learning about this half sink rinsing, made me feel better about it too...*lol* I've been spoiled. I'd forgotten just how nice it is to have a dishwasher to do all that for me... I know you'll enjoy yours, no doubts there... and the satisfaction of not using as much water? .. makes it twice as good.
;o)
Caio, for now,
Lilla ...
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…you painted a vivid image alright *chuckle* and I relate to it … oh so painfully well *lol*
Yes, they are talking ‘level 5’ here soon too…*cringe* although, as you say, we put in a nice big rain tank and can (at least) keep on drinking. It is not illegal anymore to re-use bathwater – that alone makes me want to scream. The short sighted blasted ‘rules and regulations’ annoy the lifeblood out of me, truly. I couldn’t agree more.
When I think of your last comment and the waste? I get to thinking like Guy Faulks or ‘V’… you are not wrong…
Thanks, I just love it too and have used it a few times… it is so basic and I just love the little fish reflected in one of the droplets (front row)… water is so clever.
Cheerio for now, gotta go pack school lunches and do the morning taxi-round.
thanks for the great comment.
Lilla …
Celebrity Obsession
Great post, with some really good ideas. I had no idea that a running tap in the kitchen uses 20lts per minute!! I'm definitely going to be more conscious of that going forward.
I also, love that picture that you've used again!!
Kylie
Allergy Window
Sydney Water has had a similar service running here for over a year to the one in Qld. Great service. Costed $22 when I did it. Not sure if this is still the case. A family member is a plumber who does it for Sydney Water. He's gone one step further by putting a 4 minute timer on the hot water to the shower to his shower. Not sure how it works but once that timer goes, the hot water quits in the shower!
I posted a blog a a week or two ago regarding the different large scale water conservation schemes out there. I would be curious to have your thoughts on the issue.
Great blog with great tips.
Mishpish
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..always a pleasure. Yes, I know when I first thought about it, I let the tap run and after about a minute I felt horrified! OMG I remember thinking... wow : all that water - gone. It's a revelation alright and I'm glad your onto it now, too.
Thanks for the compliment. Yes the picture is one of my favourite photo's ever - I wish I had taken it - it's just so alive, isn't it? Glad you enjoyed it ... again... (what do you think the substance is that the water is dropping into...?)
Talk again soon,
Lilla ...
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..that’s an interesting tag *lol* does it have a history?
Wow : that’s great, about Sydney. I knew the ‘cures’ here were cheap too. They advertise it on the TV here and say that the average cost of ‘fixing’ the average home, is next to nothing… mad, isn’t it? Still, better late than never at all...
I’m coming over to your blog now to have a read… thanks for your comment and the invitation.
Lilla …
Killer Beats
Ramble On
Hipnotherapy
Thank you so much for the informative post. Always interesting. Have made some changes and realize there is more to do! Thanks!
Mis
V8 Supercar Pitstop
I also love the picture ... very simple but clever.
We've been using 'grey' water in our house for a while now and, although it takes a bit of effort to collect the water (we live in a rental at the moment so cant install a tank) it's definitely worth it for the garden.
I'm pleased to say that I've become very conscious of the water use in our house and we're proud that we use quite a lot less in our household than the average (according to our water bill). A lot of thanks go to our front load washing machine ... I wouldn't be without it!
Thanks for sharing the tips and tricks with us, there is always more that we can do, isn't there.
A.
Rugby World Cup 2007
That photo is very much AquaMade...as is this post!
(not the element...the message...)
With 7 people in the family (and all lovers of loooong showers), it becomes quite a task to conserve water.
We too have a water tank...and as Sydney is currently being watered, this is wonderful...and tap filters and all appliances are water and energy efficient...the washing machine has to be!
The one thing that I have found is, washing cars with buckets of water actually uses more water than just a quick spray with a hose.
Only way we could prove it....
A portable 20litre tank with attached hose v 1 x 2litre bucket...
6 litres used from the portable tank.
12-14litres water used via buckets.
As always...brilliant.
Go forth mighty warrior.
Dusk
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...all apart of the Warrior's friendly service... *lol* truly, I'm thrilled that you got new ideas out of it.... every drop helps from now on.
Lilla ...
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..Thanks, I just sat with my morning cuppa and stared at it again for another five minutes… it absolutely fascinates me… yes simplicity itself … the timeless wisdom and playfulness of the universe all there in one shot … magic to me too.
I was thinking hard about people who are renting and can’t put in tanks, when a family friend devised a brilliant scheme. He bought a couple of those big plastic bins from Bunnings and cut a small hole in the lid the size of the down pipe, which he disconnected from the stormwater, and ran into the hole in the bin lid.
He fills about three bins (around the house perimeter) every time it rains and then puts the water through a simple Britta Water filter jug, for drinking. It really is the sweetest water in the world. Maybe something to think about? All renters could take their bins with them as they move on, like these little toilet cistern bags featured above? It would save money on excess bills as the restrictions become more severe.
I don’t have a front loading machine yet… but am just about to indulge, as I realise how much is wasted. My problem here is consumerism, I have trouble throwing out something that is in perfect working order for something new. Our current machine is about 16 years old, but as good as the day we got it. Why throw it away? However, because of the water it uses, it may well be time. I am just trying to find a new home for it somehwere else. For now, I fill every second load, from the rainwater tank... I guess that equals it out a bit?
It is my pleasure to share these tips, as we are all in the same ‘boat,’ on this one, so to speak. It is a sheer joy when someone learns something new and implements it.
Thanks for the compliment,
Lilla …
V8 Supercar Pitstop
Given the choice, I'd always select a front loader ... every time. More econonical, in many ways, and they wash clothes so much better. Not to mention the water saving benefits.
That's a great idea about the plastic bins ... I'll have to give that some thought.
I also agree with Dusk about the car washing. My husband has found exactly the same thing when washing with buckets when compared to a hose with trigger nozzel attached. It does use more water.
Oh well, doesn't matter in my part of Australia at the moment ... you're not allowed to wash cars at home at all now, only at a commercial car wash.
Then again, can't wash house windows either ... that's one job off my list of things to do!!!
A.
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There are timers for showers now if you really need to monitor it. My eldest cannot gauge time and uses a kitchen timer (which she sets to 10 minutes). When it beeps, she knows it’s time (and so do I..) *chuckle*
Too right about the tanks and your washing machine, or your excess bill would sky rocket. I think it’s unfair that they do not always take large families into account when calculating households during restrictions. Well, not in all parts of Australia, but in some.
I found your account of car washing fascinating and am repeating it here for posterity.
"...The one thing that I have found is, washing cars with buckets of water actually uses more water than just a quick spray with a hose.
Only way we could prove it....
A portable 20litre tank with attached hose v 1 x 2litre bucket...
6 litres used from the portable tank.
12-14litres water used via buckets."
Wow : that is really great information, thank you. But it makes me wonder who the experts are in council that makes the no-hose regulations, when the facts speak differently? It seems that experts, know more about less and absolutely everything about nothing, more than ever, doesn't it?
As I've said before we have a few elderly people around us and the 70 year-olds recently dobbed in the 68 years-olds for using a hand-held hose. (After 70 you can use one becuase you can't lift buckets etc)... anyway there is a war here now, to rival any Ramsey Street drama you ever saw *lol* me? I keep right out of it, but it just makes me laugh, truly... talk about love they neighbour...
Thanks again for your great comment, it just goes to show how deceptive water usage can be…
..thanks for sharing and for your lovely compliment…
Lilla …
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Cars I can understand, but windows? You have to wash the windows... there goes the K-tel Swirlon idea...*lol* back to metho and newspaper. Shame as the metho made a nice cocktail...
Yes, I'm amazed at Dusks car washing research. Tell you how I wash my car these days.. well when I do, not as often as I used too...*chuckle*
Firstly then, I wait for the rain. My 10 year old, can't wait and gets really excited. I got a hold of a couple of the $2 plastic ponchos from the cheapo shops. Then, when its torrential, we run out and wash the car on the nature strip, with soap on our sponges ... we get soaked, ponchos or not, but we have a ball and my car gets a nice second rinse and is squeaky clean.
Ah yes, the neighbours? Well I have never been one to worry too much about their good opinion and I'm sure they have put me down as certifiable by now anyway. I've found that I'm usually so misunderstood anyway, what does it matter? You'll never plough a field, by turning it over in your mind, my Dad always used to say... *lol*
Happy water conservation...
Lilla ...
V8 Supercar Pitstop
Snap!!!
My husband starts drooling every time it rains (which, unfortunately is very rarely at the moment) and runs outside with his soapy sponge and old clothes on! Usually followed closely by our son and his little sponge too.
He's very annoyed when it rains in the middle of the night or while he's at work, I can tell you!
A.
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Mrs M
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It was truly effective when i was picking a fridge in Australia wen I was there. I just hope that this good practise will spread out to other countries.
Do you think there's a site that list the brands with the efficiency marked? At least I can check out there and consider getting the model here (if available), since our voltage readings are the same.
Jessicca
Fun Facts
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I appreciate and value your comment.
Lilla ...
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It is very interesting to learn about other countries, especially where environmental practices are concerned. I am surprised that they have no ratings, it’s something we just take for granted here, as you so rightly say, and helpful for the conscientious.
I think you’d have to visit each manufacturer for electrical ratings, but I’ll have a look through my d-base, and get back to you. It may be a good idea for a future post, thanks Jessica…
Talk again soon,
Lilla …
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...that's interesting, thanks. I will try and track the electrical equivalent down for a future post... thanks for commenting.
Lilla ...
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try serachig for the energy efficieny rating of a product at this link
You can just type in the product you are looking for, or not, it gives you choices ... let me know if you find it helpful?
*hugs*
Lilla ...