Water wise tips

We all need to look for ways to save water around our homes and gardens whenever possible.

Easy ways to save water in your home

Keep your showers to four minutes. Taking shorter showers is one of the best ways to help save water.
Wait until your dishwasher or washing machine is fully loaded before you turn it on.
Turn off the tap while you brush your teeth or shave.
Wash your vegetables and rinse dishes in a plugged sink or basin – not under a running tap.
Install a WELS 4-star rated water saving showerhead and WELS 4-star rated water efficient taps to save on water and energy costs.

Easy ways to save water in your garden

Use a broom or rake rather than a hose to clean your driveways and hard surfaces.
Plant for the climate and soil in your area.
Apply 7 - 10 cm of mulch around plants to help save water lost through evaporation.
Get rid of weeds as they take water away from the plants you want to grow.
Group plants with similar needs so they all get the right amount of water without wasting any.

To help save water, water restrictions are now in place across Greater Sydney.

Fix leaks around your home

Check your plumbing and fix any leaks that waste water. One leaking tap can waste up to 2,000 litres a month.

If you think you may have a leak that you can't easily see, get to know your water meter. If the numbers on it are turning while no water is being used in your home, you could have a leak. Find out more about leak detection.

Children washing hands in a sink.

Save water by turning taps off when soaping your hands. It's one of the many ways you can easily save water at home.

See also

Find answers

How can you make your home more water efficient?
There are several things you can do around your home to ensure you're using water as efficiently as possible.

WaterFix^® Residential

WaterFix^® is currently on hold to ensure the health and safety of our plumbers and community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

WaterFix ^® Residential is a fixed price plumbing service we've offered for almost 20 years. Our qualified plumbers have helped customers to reduce their water use and save money by:
- repairing leaking taps, toilets and showerheads
- installing Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme (WELS) rated toilets, taps and showerheads
- making existing fixtures more water efficient.
Find out more about WaterFix® Residential and our range of services.

Water wise tips

Our water wise tips are everyday, common sense things you can do around your home and garden to use water efficiently.

When you follow our water wise tips and use water efficient fixtures, you'll be well on your way to saving our most precious resource!

Are you following the water restrictions?
Water restrictions are currently in place. They apply to everyone in Sydney, the Blue Mountains and the Illawarra. This includes both residents and businesses.

By following the restrictions, you'll help use water wisely.

Learn more
What can you do if you don't think you've used as much water as shown on your bill?
If you've just received your bill and feel the water usage charge is too high, there are a few things you can do.

Check your meter reading is accurate

Firstly, check the meter reading on your bill is correct. To do this, read the black numbers on your meter, then check the second page of your bill. If the numbers on the meter are a little higher than 'This Reading' (to allow for the difference between when we read the meter and when you received your bill), the reading is correct.

If the number on your meter is lower than 'This Reading' on your bill, please call us on 13 20 92 with the correct reading. We'll update your bill with the correct details.

Check for leaks

If the meter reading is correct, you may wish to do a simple test to check your home for leaks. Find out more about leak detection.

It's also a good idea to consider any possible reasons for an increase in water use. For example, you may have:
- changed your outdoor watering because of new turf and gardens, or hotter weather
- had extra people staying at your property
- filled a swimming pool
- changed a hot water system or other plumbing appliances.
Request a WaterFix® Concealed Leaks appointment

If the water usage on your water bill has increased, but you can't see a leak, you might need our WaterFix® Concealed Leaks service.

Our specialist team will be able to help identify leaks that are hard to find. WaterFix® Concealed Leaks comes with a market leading guarantee – if we don’t find a leak, the service is free.

Find out more about WaterFix® Concealed Leaks.

Request a water meter test

If you still think your water use is unreasonably high, you can pay to request a water meter test. We suggest this as a last resort, as meters are found to be accurate 80-90% of the time.

If the meter is found to be faulty, we'll adjust your water use charge and refund the meter test fee. If the meter is recording accurately, we won't refund the test fee.
What are the water restrictions?

Level 1 water restrictions are now in place

More than 85% of Greater Sydney’s water supply relies on rain. This means that our water is in short supply during prolonged droughts.

Water restrictions limit how and when we use drinking water outdoors and help reduce demand when we’re not getting enough rain. It's too soon to tell whether the rain in early 2020 is just a temporary relief from drought or a sign that conditions are improving for the long-term. It's important we all continue to save water.

Water restrictions apply to everyone in Sydney, the Blue Mountains and the Illawarra. This includes both residents and businesses.

If we all do our bit and save a little, it will make a big difference across Greater Sydney.

Find out more about water restrictions.
When is the desalination plant turned on?
Sydney’s water supply is secured through the 2017 Metropolitan Water Plan. The plan is designed to ensure there’s enough water to meet the needs of the people and environment of Greater Sydney now - and in the future.

The desalination plant at Kurnell can provide up to 15% of our drinking water needs when total dam storage levels fall below 60%. This is the trigger to commence restart procedures.

The desalination plant restarted on 27 January 2019 when Sydney’s total dam storage level dropped below 60%. The plant reached full production at the end of July and produced an average of 250 million litres a day until 26 March 2020.

From 27 March 2020, the plant is no longer operating at full capacity. It will remain operational for at least six months. This will help:
- ensure Greater Sydney has a flexible water supply
- maintain drinking water quality as there is an ongoing risk due to the bushfire ash and sediment washed into the water storages in February.
Find out more about desalination.
How does the introduction of desalination impact you?
We are accepting water from the Sydney Desalination Plant at Kurnell into our network. Water from the desalination plant must meet the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines and Sydney Water's standards. So, desalinated water matches our existing water quality, which is among the best in the world.

The desalination plant can provide up to 15% of greater Sydney's drinking water needs.

In line with the Metropolitan Water Plan, the plant restarted on 27 January 2019, when Sydney's total dam storage dropped below 60%. The plant reached full production at the end of July (supplying 250 megalitres of water a day), two months ahead of schedule.

This had a minimal impact on your bill.
- From 1 July 2019, our water service charges increased by about $7 a year.
- From1 October 2019 to 26 March 2020, our water usage charge increased from $2.11 to $2.24 a kilolitre.
These prices were determined by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal of NSW (IPART). As the plant is no longer operating as a drought response measure, the usage charge returned to $2.11 a kilolitre from 27 March 2020.

Although the plant is no longer operating at full capacity, it will remain operational for at least six months. This will help:
- ensure Greater Sydney has a flexible water supply
- maintain drinking water quality as there is an ongoing risk due to the bushfire ash and sediment washed into the water storages in February.
We expect that the average household will pay up to $5.00 more in total to keep the plant running at reduced capacity compared to the cost of turning the plant off completely.

Water calculator

Do you use more water in the bathroom, the kitchen or the garden? Hunter Water has developed a simple calculator to help you understand where you're using water - and what you can do to save it!

Find out now

Printed on : 2/07/20 15:49

URL: http://www.sydneywater.com.au/SW/your-home/using-water-wisely/water-wise-tips/index.htm

Copyright: © Sydney Water 2020