Water

FACT: Of all the water on the planet...

97% is saltwater
2% is frozen in glaciers and icecaps
0.7% is underground
0.3% makes up all the freshwater in our lakes, soil, atmosphere, streams and rivers

We all enjoy and rely on cheap and easy access to clean and fresh water. However, sometimes we can take our water supply for granted and unnecessarily waste large amounts of it.

The pumping and treatment of wastewater comes as a cost to you and the environment. Hawke’s Bay has been facing serious water shortages during recent droughts. By making easy changes to your behaviour you can do your part to conserve this precious resource.

Fix water leaks

A leaky tap or toilet cistern that drips every second can waste up to 10,000 litres of water a year, so fix that leaky tap! A dual flush toilet can save 9 litres per flush, ea saving of 25,000 litres a year! Alternatively, place a filled soft drink bottle in your cistern to reduce the volume of water used. You’ll save the amount of water in the bottle every flush.

Use water wisely in your home

Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth and put a plug in the sink to save water while you shave or wash vegetables. Keeping track of your shower time can make a big difference to your household water use. Make it fun, get a shower timer to help achieve this.

Save water in the garden

Make your garden more water efficient by putting in plants that are suitable to local conditions, such as natives. Use mulch around your plants to retain moisture and less watering will be needed. Capture rainwater in a rain barrel for use in the garden and washing cars.

Choose water efficient products

When shopping for items such as washing machines, dishwashers, shower heads, toilets and taps, choose water efficient models to save water in your home by looking out for the water efficiency labels on products. A low-flow shower head can reduce water flow by nearly half while still producing the same pressure.