Third highest water usage in the world
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Despite being the driest inhabited continent in the world, average daily water consumption in Australia is 340L per person or 900L per household – the third highest level of usage in the world.
Australia’s limited and unpredictable rainfall is being exacerbated by climate change which has disrupted rainfall patterns and resulted in many parts of the country receiving less rain. With a growing population increasing demand and potentially decreasing supply, it is the responsibility of every Australian to play their part in securing the country’s water future.
Getting better at using less water
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Fortunately, Australians are getting better at using less water. The shower, toilet, and laundry account for over 80% of household water consumption and all ‘front of wall’ plumbing equipment – taps, showers, and toilets, as well as whitegoods such as dishwashers and washing machines are rated and labelled for water efficiency. As more water efficient products replace older less efficient products, household water consumption is reduced.
In addition, Australians are becoming increasingly water-wise at home and are adopting better practices such as not letting the water run needlessly when washing dishes or brushing their teeth, taking shorter showers, collecting water in showers and fixing leaking taps.
In their gardens, many Australians are favouring drip irrigation systems, buried soaker hoses or watering by hand instead of wasteful sprinklers.
Improving water security
While many people urge water conservation policy and practical action at national and state level, there is much that can be done to improve water security at the household level. The key strategy to address household water insecurity is the installation of a rainwater harvesting system that can significantly reduce mains water usage.
Today, an estimated 25% of Australian homes collect and store rainwater for domestic use, contributing around 177 billion litres to residential water supplies. Even with irregular rainfall, for many householders in regional New South Wales, a well-designed system with a 10,000L water tank can satisfy three-quarters or more of their total household water needs.