Don't pay more for water

21-Mar-2011 by Jasmine Hodges Finda Editor

WATER prices are on the rise but that doesn’t mean Coast residents will have to pay more.

Under Unitywater’s new pricing structure, the average household on the Sunshine Coast QLD can expect an increase of $2.40 per week to their account for water supply and sewerage services in 2011-2012.

But with just a touch of diligence and some water wise thinking, you can ease the burden on your hip pocket when the next water rates arrive in your letterbox. And you will be doing the environment a favour.

According to Unitywater, average Sunshine Coast households can save up to 15,000 litres a day with these water saving tips.

Save up to 100 litres a day in your bathroom by:

• Turning off the tap while cleaning your teeth.
• Keeping showers to less than four minutes.
• When shaving, fill the sink with water rather than running the tap.
• Fixing leaking taps, toilets and showers immediately. Check for leaks.
• Intalling water-efficient devices where possible.

Save up to 15,000 litres a year in your laundry by:

• Matching the washing machine water-level to the load.
• Doing a full load of washing each time.
• Fixing leaking taps. Check for leaks.
• Install water-efficient devices where possible.

Save up to 50 litres per day in the kitchen by:

• Scraping plates clean instead of rinsing.
• Not using running water to thaw food.
• Soaking your pots and pans rather than scrubbing them under running water.
• Rinsing vegetables in a container and use the water in the garden.
• Make sure the dishwasher is full each time.
• Fix leaking taps. Check for leaks
• Install water-efficient devices.

For long-term water saving solutions, Kylie Humberstone from Sunshine Coast water and wastewater solutions company, Ozzi Kleen said saving money by conserving water is easy and great for the environment.

“Saving water can be as simple as installing a rainwater tank and connecting it up to your toilet and laundry.

“Another way to get the most out of the water you do you use is to install a wastewater recycling system. This allows you to reuse all your household water for keeping lawns and gardens lush and it is cost efficient to run."

And if you can justify the initial price to install a tank or wastewater system, the benefits to your hip pocket and the environment will be expediential.

“Potentially, if every new home on the Sunshine Coast installed a wastewater recycling system they could recycle more than 480 litres of greywater a day according to recent estimates for South East Queensland".

“Consumption figures released by the Queensland Water Commission showed Coast residents have one the highest water usage rates in South East Queensland,” said Ms Humberstone.

How do you save water in your home?

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