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Water heroes
Tip collections from water heroes in our community
@sara_why
DIYers
When it comes to being water wise, it starts in your own home by implementing simple ‘do-it-yourself’ tasks.
@nutellasum
Multipurpose magic
Being water wise doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice your plants or stop bathing your pets! You just need to reuse water whenever possible!
@nourish_naturally
Quick fixers
There are lots of quick ways you can be water wise around the house to keep wastage to a minimum.
@luisabrimble
Community spirit
Pick at least 5 water-wise tips that you haven't done before and try to incorporate these within in your daily routine. Making being water wise a habit.
@storyandco
Sustainable families
We love living on acreage, but to make sure we keep everything green and growing, we need to do our bit and be water wise.
@harrisonsreid
Housemates
Get your housemates together and find out how you can all reduce your water use. Every drop counts!
@thelebaneseplate
Conscious cooks
It’s easier than you think to be water wise around the home (especially in the kitchen). Join me & start using water wisely!
@itslizmiu
Green living
Even the smallest changes can help reduce your water use in everyday life and make living green so easy.
@cornersmith
Eco champions
At Cornersmith, we’re always looking for ways to reduce our waste, and that extends to the water we use too!
@mundane_matters
Stylishly Sustainable
Over half of the water we use indoors is in the bathrooms, making it a great place to start being water wise.
@gardenlifesydney
Green thumbs
There are lots of ways to be water wise – and for gardeners, it’s important to be aware of how much water we’re using each day.
Water wise Sydney
Here’s how Greater Sydney are doing their bit. If you’ve got a great idea, tag @sydneywater on your post.
@thelebaneseplate
One way I have found to conserve water is by reusing greywater (waste or recycled water) to help with day to day kitchen tasks.
@storyandco
There are so many ways we can be water wise in the bathroom, like reusing bath water on plants, reusing towels and using a cup of water to clean your teeth!
@storyandco
Our boys love to water the garden with Adam when he gets home from work. Hunter always checks the clock, because he knows we can’t water the garden after 10am or before 4pm to avoid the heat of the day.
Steph, Mount Annan
Instead of running multiple baths, bathe all your children together - both fun for them and functional for you!
Udee, Bondi Junction
We try to be conscious about how many cups, plates and utensils we are using to help cut down on washing up - one simple way to do this is by using a reusable water bottle instead of numerous cups and glasses.
Shahrzad, Mosman
I always wash my make up brushes in the sink instead of under running water. Doing a little saves a lot!
Tash, Dulwich Hill
Do you boil or steam veggies? Try roasting them instead. They taste delicious and saves water.
Thu and Utah, Fairy Meadow
Utah, like any big ball of fluff, gets dirty! Instead washing him with a running hose, we use a bucket of warm water over the lawn. That way the grass gets a drink at the same time!
Sally, Waverly
Sydney is warming up, so as the warmer weather approaches - turn off the shower while you’re conditioning your hair. You can even brush your teeth to help pass the time while you wait.
@storyandco
The kids love playing outside but often their clothes aren't dirty after one wear. To save on washing, we always re-wear our play clothes.
@thelebaneseplate
A good dishwasher will use less water than hand washing. Just make sure it’s a full load, that you use an eco setting and, if you have a new machine, that you resist the unnecessary urge to rinse.
@harrisonsreid
Live in a sharehouse? Challenge your housemates to keep showers to 4 minutes...or shower at the beach!
Sumeet, Strathfield
Baths use a lot more water than showers so we always try to opt for a shower and turn off the tap off while putting soap on.
@harrisonsreid
When it is hot and you want to cool off, don't have a cold shower...grab your housemates and jump in the water at the beach or in a lake.
@gardenlifesydney
Did you know very dry soil actually repels water? Improve the quality of your soil by adding a layer of mulch. You won’t have to water your garden as much if the soil is good!
Florent and Amberly, North Bondi
Plan ahead to thaw frozen foods out on a plate the night before instead of under running water.
@cornersmith
We love our trusty Picklery Dishwasher, and we make sure it’s fully stacked before running a cycle.
@nourish_naturally
Instead of boiling your veggies, stir fry, bake or steam them. This uses less water and retains more B & C vitamins, which are water soluble.
Ellese, Sydney
Do you run the tap for ages before the water gets warm? Keep a jug next to your kitchen sink to catch that water so it doesn't go to waste - you can then use it for something else, like a cup of tea!
@nutellasum
You know that water that normally goes down the drain when you wait for your shower to heat up? Collect the water from the shower while it is heating up and use that for all sorts of things.
@itslizmiu
Sprouting veggies like I am? Investing in a greenhouse means watering less frequently as water evaporates more slowly! And bonus? Your sprouts will grow even quicker! Yet another one of #manywaystosave!
Alana, Frenchs Forest
In the warmer months, we use the leftover water from our hot water bottle from the night before on the lawn or garden.
Melanie, Sydney
Denim actually doesn't need to be washed regularly, if at all. Put your jeans in the freezer instead of washing them!
@sara_why
Cut the bottom off recycled bottles and put some holes in the lid. Place them around your plants for an easy DIY ‘drip irrigation’ bottle garden!
@itslizmiu
No more baths? No worries! For a bath-free pamper sesh: get on some funky music, slap on a face mask, have a 4 minute shower, moisturise with some delightful goodies, sip on a mug of cocoa and get a good night’s rest!
@cornersmith
We don’t wash our fruit and veg under running water, instead we fill the sink to the necessary level and leave them to soak and then give them a quick buff to finish.
@harrisonsreid
No one likes stacking the dishes – but become a domestic lord and make it your duty to get your housemates on board in ensuring the dishwasher is always fully loaded before turning it on.
Nabil, Potts Point
Boiling water to wash up? Use a kettle instead of running the water until it gets hot. And don't forget to use your washing up water to water the garden too!
Florent and Amberly, North Bondi
Don't use running water to scrub your pots and pans - let them soak for easier cleaning later.
Udee, Bondi Junction
We always make sure that when we brush our teeth we fill up a cup with water to rinse instead of letting the tap run.
@sara_why
Stick suction timers in the shower for a DIY 4-minute shower challenge the whole family can get on board with.
@cornersmith
A great way to save water and add more flavour to your meals is to use the cooking water from your veg & other garden produce, or pasta, as the base for your next soup, stock or sauces.
@luisabrimble
Play songs under 4 minutes in the bathroom to help encourage and motivate your family to keep their showers as short as possible.
@mudane_matters
We also use our extra cold shower water to flush the toilet. Be sure to pour it gently though.
Dhanya, Sydney
We use a timer to help our kids learn to be more conscious about how much water they're using when they wash their face and clean their teeth.
@nourish_naturally
Confession - I love a cup of herbal tea but I rarely finish drinking it before it goes cold...so I use the leftover tea to water my indoor plants instead of throwing it out! #plantmum
@sara_why
Check both inside and outside taps regularly for any leaks. You can fix them easily with an affordable DIY kit. Make sure you check taps you don’t frequently use as well!
Udee, Bondi Junction
In our house, we try to be mindful about how many loads of washing we are doing. Most clothes don't need to be washed every day - some can aired out instead!
Kate, Wentworth Point
We half-fill this 60 litre tub in the shower - it is lots of fun for the kids and super water efficient.
@nourish_naturally
As a soon-to-be-mum, I have been drinking lots of water, which means I need to go to the bathroom more frequently. I always use the half-flush toilet button - which is an easy way that everyone can save water!
@nutellasum
I like to use the water that I collect from the shower while it is heating up to water my plants.
@mundane_matters
Only wash your clothes when you collect a full load.
@luisabrimble
Looking for any ways you can reuse or recycle water? I’m going to start to collect the dirty water from rinsing my dishes so I can use it to water my plants.
@mudane_matters
Two recent tricks I've discovered are: 1. Collect the water when the shower is heating up in a tub. 2. Challenge yourself with a 3 minute shower. Feel free to sing but make sure to put a timer on.
@itslizmiu
Sticking to one cup a day for your water (and even herbal teas) can help reduce the amount of washing and rinsing you do at the end of the day! You can extend this to cups, plates and utensils as well!
@harrisonreid
In our share house we do a big clean every two weeks. Leading up to that, we catch the water from the shower to reuse for cleaning the bathroom and washing down surfaces.
@luisabrimble
When I was a little girl, dishes would always be washed in a basin, rather than a sink or under running water. This way, you can control the amount of water you use and ensure you only use as much as you really need.
Sally, Waverly
Coming into summer, an easy way to save water is by rinsing your salads, fruits and veggies in a bowl rather than under a tap - then pour that water on a houseplant!
@gardenlifesydney
One way to keep a garden green and growing during times of drought is by planting a garden of drought tolerant plants – not only do they need less maintenance, but they also need less water.
Florent and Amberly, North Bondi
Be mindful that you always turn your taps off properly.