Quick Tips to Save Water

The following tips are taken from Sydney Water’s web-site. Please go to www.sydneywater.com.au for more information.

• Most washing machines have a load adjustment button or dial, so try to set this to match the amount of washing you're doing. If your machine doesn't have a load adjustment function, try to wait until you have enough washing for a full load.
• Lever or mixer taps (with a single lever or knob) let you find the right water temperature quickly. This means staff won't waste water trying to get the balance right.
• When cleaning, get staff to use a bucket to wash and rinse where possible, instead of running the taps or hose.
• Checking for leaks in taps, pipes and hoses is an easy way to reduce water wastage. Remember, one leaking tap can waste more than 2,000 litres a month!
• Leaking taps can waste up to 200 litres of water each day. To reduce leaks, turn your taps off lightly and replace washers as soon as they begin to leak.
• Don't forget - there are lots of clever things you can do to save water in your business's garden too.
• Encourage staff to wait until they have a full load in the dishwasher before using it. This saves water and energy, and reduces the amount of detergent entering the sewer system.
• What you put down the kitchen sink can cause blockages in the wastewater system and pollute our environment. Scrape your plates before you wash them and use a sink strainer.
• Washing fruit and vegies in a half filled sink instead of under running water is a great way to cut back on water wastage.
• Rinsing your dishes in a plugged sink or bowl rather than under a running tap saves water and is just as easy and effective.
• What you put down the drain can cause blockages and pollute our environment. Remember to regularly clean the lint filter on washing machines, and use a sink strainer when you pull the plug out of tubs.
• Automatic dishwashers can use up to 60 litres of water a load. By using a dishwasher with at least a AAA-rating, you can get this figure down to 18 litres a load and still get the kind of sparkling clean dishes you need.
• If you run a kitchen, the most water efficient methods for cooking vegetables are microwaving, steaming or using a pressure cooker. You can also cut down on water loss through evaporation by using tight lids on pots and simmering instead of boiling rapidly.
• Provide incentives for staff to save water by linking water conservation to staff performance reviews.
• Use visual tools like charts and graphs to highlight water savings to employees.
• Mention water conservation plans and progress in staff meetings.
• Use communication tools like bulletins, newsletters and emails to send staff water saving ideas, announcements, progress reports and news of special achievements.
• Include water conservation policies and procedures in staff training programs.
• Establish an ideas box to encourage employees to suggest ways to save water.
• When hosing an area, use a trigger nozzle attachment to better-target hard-to-move grime. They're also great for hand-watering plants.
• Encourage your staff to adopt water saving practices.
• Think about installing your own wastewater treatment system to recycle water and cut down on water bills.
• Re-use water from showers, washbasins and washing machine rinse cycles by directing it (speak to your plumber) onto your garden or using it to flush toilets.
• AAA-rated low flow taps or tap aerators are more efficient than ordinary taps and reduce splashing.
• Think about installing dual-flush toilets. They use half as much water as conventional models.

Join Sydney Water's Business Program and work in partnership to save water and money. To find out how email Sydney Water at everydropcounts@sydneywater.com.au