Saving water in the kitchen

There are many ways you can limit the amount of water you use and waste in the kitchen.

Don’t let your money and your water go down the drain. As a matter of priority, any leaks should be fixed immediately. A tap dripping every second wastes more than 10,000 litres of water per year.

To find out if your home has any water leaks, check the water meter. If you live in a house, the water meter is generally on the footpath outside your property. If you live in a unit, ask your body corporate where the water meters are located. Before you go to bed, make sure all your taps are turned off then check your water meter. When you get up in the morning, check the meter again. If the numbers have increased, you have a leak.

Tips for Saving Water in the Kitchen

• Don’t let the tap run when cleaning vegetables – just rinse them in a plugged sink or bowl of clean water.
• Don’t run the dishwasher until you have a full load.
• Most dishwashers have a choice of cycles. Choose the economy cycle to save water and energy.
• Keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator. You’ll always have cool water to drink and won’t waste water by running the tap until it is cool.
• Use garbage disposal units (insinkerators) sparingly as they use up to 6 litres of water a day. Compost food scraps instead, which is good for the garden.
• When handwashing dishes, don’t rinse them under running water. If you have two sinks, fill the second one with rinsing water. If you only have one sink, stack your washed dishes in a dish rack and rinse them with a bowl of water. You can save buckets of water through this simple action with running taps using around 16 litres of water a minute.
• Tap aerator devices can reduce water flow by 50 percent and are inexpensive and easy to install.
• Choose a dishwasher with a high water efficiency rating – the more stars, the more efficient the appliance.
• Ask your plumber to insulate both hot and cold water pipes to reduce changes in water temperature as water travels through to your taps. This will save energy needed for water heating.

How to…Fix a leaking tap

Fixing a leaking tap by changing a tap washer is easier than you think. Kits available from hardware stores will tell you, step by step, how to do the job and provide the tools you need. But don’t forget to turn the water off at the main first!

How to...Install a tap aerator

Tap aerators and flow restrictors reduce the amount of water that flows from your tap and are easy to install.