5 savvy ways to save water during the drought

Australia is battling through one of the worst droughts on record with farmers doing all they can to keep their stock alive in the dry conditions. And while you may be in a city far away from the sun-scorched land there are some ways you can support farmers by conserving your water usage.

Some places in the country already have restrictions in place limiting the amount of water residents can use, while others have less strict measures in place to keep them in check.

But even if you don’t live in one of those communities, it’s still helpful to cut back on water usage where you can. It will not only show your support to the hard-working farmers doing it tough, but will save you money on your water bill.

Wash full loads only

Instead of doing several loads of washing a week with only a few items thrown in each time, wait until you have enough dirty clothes to fill the washing machine. The same can be said for dishwashers with your pots, pans, glasses and plates.

Most washing machines and dishwashers use the same amount of water each time regardless of how many items are inside. So if it’s only half full when you turn it on, you’re wasting a lot of water.

Install low flow fixtures

Switch your shower heads and faucets to low-flow fixtures. They work by mixing air into the water flow, so it still feels as though you have a full water-flow, but really the volume has been significantly reduced.

According to the Department of the Environment and Energy, tap water use can drop from the standard 15-18L/min down to as little as 2L/min.

Turn off taps when not in use

A lot of water goes to waste when you have a shower and brush your teeth, so instead of keeping the water running at all times, turn it off when it’s not in use. For example, when you’re scrubbing the conditioner into your hair and washing your legs, you don’t need a constant stream of water.

The same can be said for when you’re brushing your teeth. Simply wet the toothbrush at the beginning and at the end when you wash out your mouth.

Another way to save water in the shower is by placing a bucket underneath as the water warms up before you step in. Instead of it going down the drain, use it to water your plants or throw it on the garden.

Keep drinking water in the fridge

When you turn on the tap to grab a glass a water, you most likely let the water run for a minute or so until it gets cool. Just by doing this you are wasting a lot of water that could go to better use somewhere else.

Instead, get a few jugs and fill them up with water to keep in the fridge. This way you’ll always have nice cold water to enjoy on hot summer days and won’t be wasting any in the process.

Water in the morning

If you have a nice garden and lawn that you’d like to keep green, water it in the morning instead of in the middle of the day. The sun is at its hottest between the hours of 10am and 2pm and the water will be evaporated before your lawn gets a chance to absorb it.

Alternatively, in the morning when the temperature is cooler, your lawn will lap up the water and thus, you won’t need to have the sprinkler turned on for as long.