Turn off taps when while washing your face, brushing your teeth or shaving.
Just taking a five-minute shower a day, instead of a bath, will use a third of
the water, saving up to 400 litres a week. Showering could use up to 20 litres
of water per minute.
If you prefer to bath, share the water, and don't make it as full. Taking a bath
could use between 80 and 150 litres of water.
Use low-flow showerheads, dual-flush toilet mechanisms and water-efficient
washing machines.
Kettles should be filled with just enough water for your needs, but not to the
brim. This will reduce your electricity bill too.
Don't over-fill containers like cooking pots, where you then also use more
energy to heat the water.
Reducing the toilet flush volume alone can save 20% of total water consumption.
This can be done by putting a 2-litre cold drink bottle, filled with water and a
little sand to add weight, into the cistern.
Fix a leaking toilet. It can waste up to 100 000 litres of water in one year.
Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Dispose of tissues, insects and other
waste in the trash rather than the toilet. Every time you flush the toilet, 12
litres of water is used.
Use "grey water" - used water from baths, washing machines and other safe
sources - to flush your toilet.
Do not over-fill or excessively backwash your swimming pool.
Use a bucket rather than a hose to wash your car. If you must use a hose, use a
sprayer that can be turned off in-between spraying the car. Using a garden hose
could use as much as 30 litres of water per minute.
Do not pour paint and chemicals down the drain.
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Farmers must ensure that they keep toxic insecticides away from water
sources and streams.
Factories should take care of how they discharge mercury
and other heavy metals into waste water.
People living in rural areas should take care not to use the river or river bank
as a toilet.
Always water your plants during the early morning hours or in the evening, when
temperatures are cooler - between 10:00 and 15:00. You can lose up to 90% of
water to evaporation.
Every time you boil an egg, save the cooled water for your houseplants. They'll
benefit from the nutrients released from the shell.
ocus on indigenous and non-water-consumptive alien plants (but not invasive
alien plants).
Group plants according to their water needs and to mulch around them.
Water gardens less frequently, but water well. Using a garden hose could use as
much as 30 litres of water per minute
Clear invasive alien plants on your property.
Roof water can also be profitably stored in tanks, for watering gardens.
Use "grey water" - used water from baths, washing machines and other safe
sources - to water your garden.