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Did you know ...
A toilet with a slow leak can waste more than 4,000 litres of water a year
2,000 litres of water a month can be wasted by a dripping tap – this adds up to a staggering 24,000 litres a year (even a slow leaking tap that only wastes a cup of water per hour will waste over 2,000 litres per year!)
A water-efficient aerating tap discharges as little as 2 litres of water per minute – a NON water-efficient tap can discharge 15 to 18 litres of water per minute
A WELS 3-star water efficient showerhead can save 14,500 litres of water each year
30,000 to 40,000 litres of water can be saved, per year, by swapping out an 11 litre single flush toilet for a WELS 4-star dual flush toilet
In the laundry, a WELS 4-star washing machine will only use around 60 to 71 litres of water per wash – a WELS 2-star washing machine will use around 130 litres of water per wash
Numbers source: www.climatechoices.act.gov.au
Who is WELS?
The Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) scheme provides a star rating for water efficiency across appliances and fixtures. This enables us, the consumers, to easily compare, between products, which is more water efficient.
WELS-regulated products include toilets, urinals, showers, taps, flow controllers, dishwashers and washing machines.
What does the WELS star rating mean?
The rating given (up to 6 stars) is displayed on a label on the product – this rating indicates the water-efficiency of the appliance or fixture:
the more stars, the more water efficient the product is compared to a product with less stars; and
the more stars, the more money you can save.
A WELS label on a toilet displays how many litres will be used for a half flush and how many litres for a full flush. A WELS label on a tap or showerhead displays the average litres of water used by the product per minute.
What appliances & fixtures use the most water?
Toilets, showers, taps and washing machines use the most water (dishwashers are actually more water-efficient than washing dishes by hand).
How much water and money does a leaking toilet waste?
* Based on a water price of $2.50 per kL
An easy way to test if your toilet is leaking is to add a few drops of food colouring into the cistern. Wait 30 minutes and then check the toilet bowl water – if it resembles the colour of your food colouring, you have a leaking toilet!
Two low-cost solutions to save water at home
1. Upgrade to water-efficient taps: Next time you wash your hands under the tap, watch how much water is being unnecessarily lost down the sink. Older taps use up to 15 litres of water per minute whereas a tap with an aerator (also known as a flow regulator) can reduce the flow down to 6 litres per minute. The aerator mixes with air which reduces the force the water flows out of the tap, therefore only using the amount that is required to get the job done.
2. Upgrade to 4-star efficient shower heads (also known as low-flow shower heads): Even if you prefer stronger showers with a higher flow, don’t let this put you off upgrading to a water-efficient shower head. Well-designed low-flow showerheads (7.5 litres per minute) are available and provide an experience comparable to, or even better than a 9 litres per minute showerhead – this small change potentially could save more than 5,000 litres of water per year.
How to check for water leaks
Not all water leaks can be seen! If you have an underground leak, thousands of litres a day can be wasted. Potentially, the first you will know of it, is when you receive an increased water bill or you see water damage to your property. Unity Water have a very good Website page “Checking for water leaks” (link below) – along with useful information, there is a video to show you how to read your water meter).
Why it is important for us all to be water efficient!
If we all contribute to being water-efficient now, this will go a long way to keeping our country’s water reserves at sustainable levels during times of little rain. It will also contribute to minimising the additional water resources being taken out of our rivers, thus protecting the wildlife that live in them and those that rely on them for their survival.
Water efficient = saving money & protecting the environment
By using less water, you will also be using less energy for heating the water – therefore both your water bill and energy bill will be lowered. Plus, the less energy used, reduces CO2 emissions which helps to protect the environment.
If you have a leaking tap or toilet or you would like water-efficient appliances and fixtures upgraded or installed, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We are based in Chermside, however we have team members located throughout the Brisbane northside and southside, the Moreton Bay and Samford Valley regions, Brisbane's East, Bayside, Western suburbs, CBD and inner-city who will be able to head to your property as a matter of urgency.
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