Whether you're taking a shower or bath, washing dishes by hand or using a dishwasher, what are some ways to save water?
17th Aug, 2016
Australia is the driest inhabited continent on Earth, but we are also among the biggest water users in the world per person. How can we use less water - in the products we buy, as well as in the home?
On average, over five trillion litres of water is extracted from Victoria’s rivers each year. Most of this water – between 75 and 80 percent – is used for irrigated agriculture, especially dairy. But about 15 percent is used by households and businesses in towns and cities. [1]
That means saving water involves thinking about the things you buy and eat. How much water was needed to create what we consume? This is sometimes called ‘embodied’ water, and it accounts for a big part of our water use.
The other opportunity is to save water at home. Indoors, the shower is typically the biggest water user (about 35 percent of indoor water use in the average Australian home), followed by the toilet and laundry (about 25 percent each).[2]
Check out the articles and blog posts below about saving water at home, choosing water efficient appliances and looking after our previous rivers.
Sources:
[1] Based on Victorian Water Accounts 2013-14. Aquaprint: A community vision for water reform, Environment Victoria, June 2016, p.13.
Whether you're taking a shower or bath, washing dishes by hand or using a dishwasher, what are some ways to save water?
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