Water

Access to fresh water is one of the major issues facing the planet. Global consumption of water is doubling every 20 years, more than twice the rate of human population growth, while pollution and over-consumption in many regions of the world has reduced the ability of supplies to meet demand.

On a per capita basis, Australia has one of the largest consumptions of water in the world. In our homes, each person uses an average of around 300 litres of water per day. This does not take into account our outdoor activities such as watering the garden or washing the car, which double our domestic water use. With the impacts of global warming and population growth, this level of water usage may be unsustainable. 

Hobart is the second driest capital city in Australia after Adelaide, with an average annual rainfall of only 624mm. Our east coast urban centres have even less rainfall. We need to seriously rethink the way that we use our fresh water resource to ensure its long term viability. Yet another issue to consider is the energy use of sewerage treatment and pumping water from its source to our taps!

Soon, all Tasmanian households and businesses will pay for how much water they use. The upside is that you will be empowered to reduce your bills by using water efficiently.

Top 5 ways to be waterwise

1. Replace your shower head  with a 9L/min (or less) model.  This can save upwards of 30 thousand litres and $27 per year in water, and a further $130 per year in energy for hot water! At an upfront cost of about $25, replacing your shower head will 'pay itself off' in less than 2 months! This is based on going from a 17L/min shower head to a 9L/min shower head, and using it for 10 minutes per day on average.
2. Install a Flush Miser in your toilet. This simple Aussie invention allows you to choose how much water you use each flush (simply let go of the button when you want it to stop flushing).  It saves the average Tassie household 30 thousand litres and $27 per year in water; 'paying itself off' in less than 9 months. Better still, you can install it yourself in less than a minute. You can purchase a Flush Miser for $20 from SLT.
3. Turn off the tap – Don't leave the tap running while you brush your teeth, soap up,
   etc. It is usually better to put the required amount of water in the sink and wash your
   dishes or veggies in that rather than under a running tap.
4. Fill 'er up – Wait until your dishwasher and washing machine are full before running them. The same amount of water is used regardless of how full your machine is, so if you wait until it is full you won't have to run it as often. 
5. Install a rainwater tank – many regional homes are completely dependant on rainwater collection, but urban households can also collect their stormwater to use in the home and garden. Rebates are currently available from the Commonwealth Government ($500) for installing rainwater tanks which are plumbed into toilets and/or washing machines.

Did you know?

• Over 25% of our household water use is for showering – approximately 55,000 litres per household each year. Replace old showerheads with a water efficient (6 - 9 litres per minute) version today!
• An average 12 litres of water per person per day goes down the kitchen sink? This may be able to be diverted directly to flushing the toilet or watering the garden. Alternatively use a separate bowl for washing up. Your water can then be easily reused for watering plants. Use environmentally friendly detergents.
• Each year the average Australian household uses 230,000 litres of water.

Here are some of our most popular Sustainable Living Guides about water:

• Solar hot water for your home – all about domestic solar hot water systems
• Rainwater tanks – save money by collecting rainwater
• Babies and sustainable living – this guide shows how to care for your baby while ensuring you don't use a lot of extra power, water, resources and unnecessary chemicals
• Composting toilets – reduce the amount of sewage your household produces by turning it into safe, odor-free compost
• Greywater – reduce the amount of water used at your home by capturing greywater for use on your garden