Your home water savings checklist – easy wins for your wallet

A few small changes can slash your water bill and help build a more resilient Australia.

Inside the Home

Bathroom – Big Savings Start Here

☐ Check for dripping taps or leaking showerheads

☐ Replace worn washers or upgrade to 4-star WELS-rated fittings

☐ Install a low-flow showerhead (9 L/min or less) saves you money every single day

☐ Keep showers to 4 minutes or less (use a timer or playlist)

☐ Test your toilet for leaks add food dye to the cistern; if colour appears in the bowl, you're wasting money

☐ Upgrade to a dual-flush toilet (3–4.5 L per flush) saves around $148 yearly

Kitchen – Small Habits, Real Returns

☐ Run the dishwasher only when full and use the eco setting

☐ Scrape plates instead of rinsing under running water

☐ Check for leaks under sinks or around taps

☐ Upgrade to a water-efficient dishwasher (4-star WELS or higher)

Laundry – Easy Efficiency

☐ Use full loads in the washing machine

☐ Choose a front-loader with a 4-star WELS rating or higher

☐ Reuse grey water (where safe and permitted) for garden use

☐ Inspect washing machine hoses for leaks or corrosion

Outside the Home

Garden & Lawn – Water Smart, Save More

☐ Water early morning or late evening to stop evaporation stealing your money

☐ Use mulch to retain soil moisture naturally

☐ Replace thirsty lawns with native or drought-tolerant plants, they thrive without extra water

☐ Adjust sprinklers so you're watering plants, not paths

☐ Install drip irrigation instead of sprinklers targets, water exactly where it's needed

☐ Check irrigation systems monthly for leaks

Around the House – Quick Fixes

☐ Fit a trigger nozzle to hoses control every drop

☐ Use a broom instead of hosing hard surfaces

☐ Wash the car on the lawn using a bucket, not a running hose

☐ Install a rainwater tank for outdoor use free water for your garden

☐ Check outdoor taps for drips

Smart Upgrades That Pay You Back

☐ Replace old appliances with water-efficient models (look for WELS labels)

☐ Fix leaks promptly even a slow drip wastes over 20,000 L a year (that's $60+ down the drain)

☐ Consider smart water meters or monitoring tools to track usage and spot problems early

☐ Review your water bill quarterly to catch unusual spikes before they become expensive

Your Savings Target

Good to know: The average Australian uses 175–200 L of water daily. Cut just 10%, and you'll save more than 7,000 L yearly plus genuinely reduce your household bills.

Every action on this checklist puts money back in your pocket while strengthening Australia's water security. Start with three ticks today, and watch your savings grow.

References

• Australian Bureau of Statistics, Water Account, Australia 2021–22

• Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Water Efficiency

• Smart Approved WaterMark, Outdoor Water Use

• Sydney Water, Waterwise at Home