Water saving tips

Easy water saving tips in and around your home.

Saving water outdoors:

• water only what your plants need, over-watering or inefficient irrigation systems just waste water
• if your irrigation system is on automatic timer - turn it off.
• avoid hand-held hosing the garden during the heat of the day.  
• plant smart - plant different varieties of hardy, drought resistant plants, especially on steep slopes where there's a lot of runoff. Succulents, cacti and desert plants are easy care and provide interesting shapes and textures for your garden. 
• mulch or compost your flowerbeds. Organic material on the soil will help trap-in moisture, prevent weeds and provide important nutrients to your plants.
• mow your lawns on the highest setting - let your grass grow a bit longer. This lets the roots grow deeper and adds surface area to the grass blades so they hold more water and don't need irrigating as much.
• put a bucket in the shower to catch the water. Use it to water pot plants. You'll be surprised how much water you'll collect.
• sweep - don't hose.  Sweep paths and driveways rather than hosing them down.
• cover your pool to reduce evaporation
• use a bucket to wash your boat or bike - only use the hose to rinse off.
• wash your car, boat, bike on the grass and water your lawn at the same time.

In the laundry:

• load up the washing machine - make sure every load is a full one. Saves 125 litres per full wash
• use the washing cycle with the least rinses - if you must wash small loads, use the lowest water level on your machine
• use the "suds-saver" feature if your machine has one. It reuses warm, soapy water.
• repair leaky taps, hoses or fittings - that goes for sinks, basins and outside taps too. This can save up to 32,000 litres per month. Watch a video on how to repair a leaking tap

In the bathroom

• turn the tap off while cleaning your teeth or shaving - saves 10 litres per minute
• a 3 minute shower uses less than half the water needed for a bath - saves 80 litres per shower
• check your toilet for leaks - put a few drops of food colouring into the toilet cistern. If it appears in the bowl without flushing, you have a leak that needs repairing. Leaks waste up to 32,000 litres per month. Watch a video on how to fix a leaking toilet
• fix any leaking taps

If you're planning to renovate or build

• install water-saving shower heads or flow restrictors - saves 30 litres per shower.
• install a flush saver device or dual flush to your toilet - saves up to 10 litres per flush.

In the kitchen:

• rinse and peel vegetables in a bowl or sink half-filled with water, instead of under a running the tap - saves 10 litres per minute
• wait until you have a full load before starting your dishwasher, use the eco-setting - saves 125 litres for each wash
• only run the waste disposal unit when it's full - saves 10 litres per minute 
• rinse dishes in a sink filled with water, rather than under a running tap - saves 20 litres
• keep a jug of drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap water until its cold - saves up to 2 litres per glass
• When boiling vegetables, use just enough water to cover them and use a tight fitting pot lid - better still, use the microwave

How to fix a leaking toilet overflow 

How to fix a leaking tap 

Thanks to Porirua City Council for sharing these videos