The easiest way to save water in the bathroom is not to shower! But if you want to have a social life then this is not an option to consider. So the next best thing is to reduce the time spent in the shower. Another way to save water and energy (gas or electricity), is to replace the existing shower head with a newer more efficient one.

When brushing your teeth, don’t let the tap run. Use a glass of water instead.

You might also consider installing a flow regulator / controller to your taps to reduce the flow.

To find out if your property has a leak. You can use your mains water meter to check this. At night prior to going to bed take a reading of the meter and then first thing in the morning before anyone in the household starts using water. If the reading has changed then you could have a leak and need to get it checked out. Make sure you did not have any devices using water, such as an automatic garden sprinkler etc that might have turned on that night.

In the Kitchen the dishwasher is the largest user of water. To minimise its impact make sure it is used when you have a full load, and then run it in the economy mode if it has one. If you are buying a new dishwasher then consider its efficiency rating, both for water and energy. Not only will it save on resources but it will save you money also.

The Laundry is the second biggest consumer of water and energy in the home. When buying a new washing machine, make sure you look at the water and energy efficiency ratings. When washing clothes make sure you use the washing machine when full loads are available. If you need to wash smaller loads then adjust the machine to suit. Some newer washing machines are auto sensing and automatically adjust the level of water to suit the load.

Outside the home, evaporation is a major cause of water loss with swimming pools. Covering the swimming pool can prevent evaporation and by limiting exposure to the sun it also reduces the amount of chemicals needed to maintain the pool.

Using a shade sail across the swimming pool can reduce evaporation, and also benefits swimmers by protecting them from the Sun’s rays. It also reduces chemical consumption.

A pool cover can be used which can also benefit by not allowing debris to enter the pool.

Exposure to wind contributes to evaporation. One way to reduce this is to create windbreaks using the surrounding landscapes such as trees, shrubs, hedges, walls etc.

If you have a sand filter installed the backwashing needs to be carried out. You should only need to do a backwash every 4 – 6 weeks. Always keep an eye on the filter glass, and only back wash until the glass is clear.

Consider installing a water tank to reduce your water bills. Rain water can be used to maintain your garden, top up the pool, or wash your car. You can even have the tank connected to your toilets for flushing. Having Water tanks allows you to be prepared, if any water restriction are put in place.