Water Use and ConservationWhakamahinga wai/Penapenanga wai

We’re encouraging people to get to know their water usage this summer. To gain a greater understanding and build a better relationship with our precious resource, learn how you can measure your water use and what we can all do to conserve it. 

Why should we conserve water?

Here in the Hawke’s Bay, we’ve got something pretty special. It’s our precious freshwater, and it connects us all.

Freshwater is a finite resource, so we’ve got to look after it. If we take more out than we need or if we don’t protect it, the whole environment is affected, both above and below ground. It’s our responsibility to keep that balance right.

How much water do I use?

You can learn about the average daily water use in a home below. One bucket holds an average of 10 litres. Use this information to answer the following questions:

• How much water would you use if you left the garden sprinklers on for two hours?
• If you had a leaking pipe (1.5 mm hole), how many litres of water would be leaked every day?
• How much water would you waste if you had a leaky tap and didn't fix it for a week?
• How much water do you use in a day? What about your whole family?

Kitchen

Tips to save water in the kitchen:

• Scrape, rather than rinse, dishes and utensils before loading into a water-efficient dishwasher. 
• If you wash your dishes by hand, use the minimum amount of dishwashing detergent and don't leave the water running when rinsing them.
• When buying a new dishwasher, choose one that is water efficient.
• Use economy settings for small loads in your dishwasher.
• Defrost food items in the fridge overnight rather than running water over them.
• Re-use the water left over from cooked or steamed foods to start a nutritious soup.
• Install an instant water heater near your kitchen sink so you don't have to run the water while it heats up. This also reduces energy costs.
• Using water efficient fittings on toilets, taps and washing machines can reduce the amount of water used by at least 50 litres per person each day.

Bathroom

Tips to save water in the bathroom:

• Don't leave the water running while shaving or brushing your teeth.
• A low-flow shower head can save up to 50 litres of water for each six-minute shower, or up to 20,000 litres of water per person per week.
• Take shorter showers: a quick shower uses less than quarter of the water used in a bath.
• Only fill the bathtub with as much water as is required; you don't need as much in your bathtub for babies or pets.
• Check for leaks. Put a few drops of food colouring in the toilet cistern and wait. If it appears in the toilet bowl without flushing, you have a leak. You can save up to 2.5 million litres of water (35,000 bathtubs of water) a year by fixing your leaky toilet.
• Use a dual flush system; if you haven't got one, put a brick in the cistern so you use less water.
• A flush control device, such as a gizmo, will save significant amounts of water on most types of toilet cistern.

• Don't use the toilet as a rubbish bin by flushing tissues or squashed bugs that should be put in the bin.

Laundry

Tips to save water in the laundry:

• Remember that washing machines can use up to a bathtub full of water per load.
• If your machine has a water level adjustment, use it! Otherwise, wait until you have a full load before washing and you'll save up to 10 litres of water for every wash, as well as cut your electricity costs.
• How good is your washing machine? Think about water efficiency next time you are purchasing a new machine. Consider those that offer cycle and load size adjustments.
• Insulate the hot water pipes, starting from the hot water tank and moving towards the taps.
• Check your hot water cylinder overflow pipe (on the roof). If the ajax valve isn't working properly, the cylinder will leak hot water, which wastes both water and electricity.

Outside

Tips to save water outside and in the garden:

• The average garden hose delivers 1,000 litres of water in an hour so if you have sprinklers on, don't forget them. Ideally, use a timer.
• Water at cool times of the day and when it isn't windy. Early in the morning is best, it is better for the plants and less water is wasted through evaporation.
• Soak don't spray every fourth day in summer. This makes plants hardier and encourages the roots to go deeper into the soil to seek out moisture.
• Adjust sprinklers so they do not spray on paths, driveways or against buildings.
• Remove weeds as they compete with your plants for water.
• Comply with any water restrictions.
• When you clean your fish tank, use the 'old' nitrogen and phosphorous-rich water on plants.
• When you give your pet fresh water, pour the old water on your trees or shrubs.
• Use leftover water for houseplants, instead of pouring out a half-empty glass of drinking water.
• Cover pools and spas to reduce water evaporation.
• Park the car on the lawn when washing it and turn the hose off when soaping.
• Fix leaky taps with new washers. If it still drips, call a plumber.
• Use a broom instead of the hose to clean paths and driveways.
• Know where your toby valve is located. This could save water and prevent damage to your home.

Report any leaks on the road or the footpath to Council by calling our team anytime on 06 857 8060.