Marton it's time to conserve water

January 31, 2022

Warmer weather is officially here so it's time to start thinking about how much water we are using to avoid any water restrictions in Marton.

There are many ways to reduce the amount of water we use. Using a little less can make a big difference, it can also save you money and help the environment.

The easiest way to conserve water is to think about how we use it.

Here's a few tips to help you and your whānau conserve water.

Turn off the tap

By turning off the tap when you are brushing your teeth you can save thousands of litres of water a year. We can save up to 64 cups of water each time we brush our teeth.

Fix leaks

Fix leaking taps and pipes promptly. Leaks waste far more water than you'd think.
If you have a tap that drips at 50ml per minute (an egg cup full), you'll be losing 72 litres of water a day.

Reduce water flow

Water flow is the rate water comes out of your taps and showerheads. You don't need your showerhead to deliver more than nine litres of water a minute, or your taps six litres a minute, yet some use three times that much. Switch to water-efficient taps and showerheads.

Save water in your kitchen and laundry

Nearly a third of household water is used in the kitchen and laundry and much of this water is wasted. Simple actions and careful choice of appliances can reduce your water use in these areas.

Use the plug

If you are rinsing clothes or dishes, put in the plug and part-fill the sink instead of running water throughout.

Fill a jug

Keep a water jug in the fridge in summer so you don't have to run the tap for ages to get your water cold enough for a drink. If your water is chlorinated, it also reduces the chlorine flavour.

Scrape dishes or use the dishwasher's eco rinse

Rinsing plates in the sink can waste many litres of water and is often not needed. It is usually enough just to scrape plates before putting them in the dishwasher.

Choose the right appliances

Choose appliances that are the right size for your household, so you can run them only when they're full. And choose models that use less water and energy.

Don't run appliances half-empty

Fully load your dishwasher and washing machine before running them. Often the 'half-load' setting tends to use much more than half the water and energy of a full load.
Choose eco-settings to save water and energy.

Save water in your bathroom and toilet

Together, the bathroom and toilet account for half of the water used by most households. The toilet alone flushes 25% of household water down the drain.
Dual flush toilets save water.

Take showers not baths

Take showers instead of baths and keep your showers short.
Turn the shower on only when you're ready to get in.