24 March

Reduce your water use with free audit

Aucklanders have been making a strong effort to use less water and Watercare needs them to keep up the good work.

Yesterday, Auckland’s water consumption was 397 million litres — three million litres below the target of 400 million litres or less!

There are lots of simple ways for people to reduce their water use. Watercare offers a free water advice and audit service which provides people with a personalised report showing how their household can best save water.

Water advice line advisor Olivia Tukuogo says reducing water use is easy.

“Take a shorter shower - also a great way to save on your energy bill - and catch the cold water in a bucket while waiting for the heated water. This water can be used to help fill your washing machine, or the toilet cistern.

“Wait until you have a full load before doing the laundry or the dishes. Rinse using a bowl in the sink or pop the plug in rather than leaving a tap running. Recycle water from drink bottles and dehumidifiers over the garden.”

St Johns resident Wayne Dunning received a water audit and says it’s a great service.

“They were very thorough – they checked every appliance involving water and checked all the fittings.”

As a result of the audit, he performed a leak test, had a flow restrictor installed in a shower and had a leaking tap fixed.

Dunning already knows a thing or two about saving water – he uses two 1000 litre tanks to catch the run-off from part of his roof and has set up an irrigation system for his impressive vegetable and flower gardens using the collected stormwater.

With Aucklanders being asked to save 20 litres per person, per day, Dunning is also using water from his tanks to fill the washing machine and toilet.

“We’re doing our bit to save water. I grew up on a farm and we had tank water. I learned that water was very precious and not endless.”

Five easy ways to reduce your water use

1. Cut your shower time by two minutes: Approximate saving = 16 litres

2. Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth. Approximate saving = 4 litres

3. Only run your dishwasher when it’s full.

4. Only run your washing machine when it’s full.

5. Use the half-flush on your toilet.

Visit the Watercare website for more ways to be waterwise.

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