Water Saving Tips
Our Water Use
Livingstone residents have traditionally been among the top water consumers in Australia, ranking within the top 10 according to the Bureau of Meteorology’s National Performance Report for Water Utilities. As of December 2023, average household consumption reached over 100 kilolitres per household, a substantial increase from the previous average of around 70 kilolitres.
This increased usage has resulted in higher water bills for many households, a trend that Livingstone Shire Council is monitoring closely.
By making mindful adjustments to our daily routines, we can collectively reduce our consumption, preserving our water resources and managing costs more effectively.
Saving Water
There are many simple things you can do in your home and garden to save water:
Water-saving tips in the home
| Activity |
Litres (L) used |
Tip |
| Shower |
| Standard showerhead |
Almost 15 to 25 litres per minute |
Limit showers to four minutes or less to save water and energy. A quarter of electricity used in a home is used to heat water. |
| A three-star rated water efficient showerhead |
6 to 7 litres per minute |
| Bath |
| Half full |
80 litres average |
Never overfill your bath. Only use the necessary amount. Check your plug for leaks. |
| Full |
140 litres average |
| Toilet |
| Single flush toilet |
Up to 12 litres of water in one flush |
Use the half-flush button when appropriate. Only flush the three Ps. Flushing rubbing wastes water and can block your pipes. |
| Dual flush toilet (Half flush) |
3 litres |
| Dual flush toilet (Full flush) |
6 litres |
| Brushing teeth |
| With tap running |
5 litres per minute |
Always turn the tap off when brushing your teeth to save water. Use a glass of water for rinsing. |
| With tap turned off |
1 litre per minute |
| Washing dishes |
| Washing by hand (one meal) |
Up to 18 litres |
Avoid rinsing before washing. Scrape food remains into a compost or garbage bin. Ensure your dishwasher is full. |
| Old dishwasher |
40.5 litres |
| 3-star rated machine |
18 litres |
| Washing clothes |
| Top loader |
130 litres per cycle |
Wash only full loads and use the economy cycle if you have one. |
| Front loader |
50 litres per cycle |
| Leaks from taps and pipes |
| Dripping tap |
27 – 198 litres a day |
Regularly check your taps, hoses and pipes for leaks. A leak that goes undetected will not only waste our H2O, but your money as well. |
| Leaking pipe (1.5mm hole) |
99 litres a day |
| Leaks from toilet cisterns |
| Slow, barely visible leak |
9 litres a day |
Regularly check your toilet for leaks to save water and money. |
| Visible leak in toilet pan water |
36 litres a day |
| Visible, just audible |
144 litres a day |
| Quite visible, constant refilling hiss |
261 litres a day |
* All figures are provided as an estimate
Water-saving tips in the garden
| Activity |
Litres (L) used |
Tip |
| Garden |
| Sprinkler |
1000 litres per hour |
Don’t water in the heat of the day between 10am and 4pm. The water will evaporate. |
| Watering the garden with a hose |
600-900 litres per hour |
| Hosing the driveway |
75 litres per 5 minutes |
| Swimming pool |
| Filling up a swimming pool |
Up to 54,000 litres |
Use a swimming pool cover to reduce evaporative losses. You could save between 11,000 – 30,000 litres of water a year. |
| Washing the car |
| Hose washing |
180 litres a wash |
Wash your car on the grass using a trigger or twist nozzle and a bucket. Your lawn will be greener and you’ll use less water. |
| Bucket washing |
99 litres a wash |
| Leaks from taps and pipes |
| Dripping tap |
27 – 198 litres a day |
Regularly check your taps, hoses and pipes for leaks. A leak that goes undetected will not only waste our H2O, but your money as well. |
| Leaking pipe (1.5mm hole) |
99 litres a day |
All figures are provided as an estimate
Useful links
Learn how to keep track of your water usage and what to do if your bill is higher than usual: