Saving water inside your home

Simple changes inside your home can help save water and reduce your water bills.

While much of a Northern Territory household’s water use happens in the garden, there are also plenty of easy ways to save water indoors. Small changes to showers, taps, toilets, dishwashing and appliances can make a real difference over time.

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Five simple water saving tips

Here are some easy water saving tips to use at home. They can help save significant amounts of water and reduce your water bills.

1. Showers

An easy way to save water is switching from baths to showers. Your choice of showerhead can also make a big difference. By changing to a newer showerhead, you could save around 20,000 litres of water a year.

Three-star showerheads use up to 9 litres of water per minute, while older-style showerheads can use up to 20 litres per minute.

An electrical shower timer or even a simple egg timer can help you keep showers shorter. Four-minute showers are recommended.

2. Dishwashers

The dishwasher is one of the biggest water users in the kitchen, so it is worth choosing a water-efficient model. If you are buying a new dishwasher, look for a WELS label. The most water-efficient models have 6 stars.

Look for the WELS label when comparing appliances.

Example of a WELS star rating label

Helpful tips before your next dishwasher cycle:

  • Only run the dishwasher when you have a full load.
  • Use the rinse-hold setting, if available, instead of rinsing dishes under the tap.

3. Fix leaky taps

Dripping taps do not just sound annoying — they can waste between 30 and 200 litres of water a day. Replacing washers or broken parts when needed can save water and money over time.

Top tap tips:

  • Flow-controlled aerators can reduce tap flow by up to 50% and are inexpensive.
  • Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth.

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4. Toilets

If you have an older toilet and are able to upgrade, it could save a significant amount of water. Older single-flush toilets use around 12 litres per flush, while modern dual-flush toilets use about 3 litres per half flush and 4.5 litres per full flush.

Leaking toilets can also waste large amounts of water. On average, a leaking toilet can waste as much as 200,000 litres of water per year.

To check for a toilet leak:

  • Add a few drops of dye into the toilet cistern and leave it for an hour without flushing.
  • If dye appears in the bowl, this may indicate a leak.

5. Washing up

Washing up under a running tap instead of using the sink plug can waste a lot of water each night, even for a few pots and pans. This can be easily avoided by washing dishes with the plug in the sink.

Other handy tips include:

  • If you have two sinks, fill one for washing and one for rinsing.
  • Use washing-up liquid sparingly so you do not need extra rinsing water.

Looking for more ways to save water? Visit Saving water at your home for broader tips on saving water indoors and in your garden.