Water savers in the bathroom

The bathroom is a major consumer of water in the home, so it's a great place to put some water saving practices into place during times of water shortage and restrictions. From rainwater tanks to recycling grey water, we look at some water saver ways to reduce your water use in the bathroom.

Install a low-flow showerhead or tap aerator - Replace your old-fashioned, water-guzzling showerhead with a water-efficient model and you could reduce the amount of water you use by up to half. Tap aerators are also a great way to reduce the amount of bathroom water going down the drain. Cheap and easy to install, these water saving taps restrict water flow without reducing the pressure.

Install a rainwater tank - Rainwater can be collected and used for such household purposes as flushing the toilet or doing the laundry. There are strict regulations for using recycled water and connecting rainwater tanks to plumbing systems, so contact your local council for more information before installing one. Some councils also offer rebates for installing rainwater tanks.

Recycle your grey water - A great way to save water in the bathroom is to recycle it for other uses around the home. Recycled water can be collected by placing a bucket in the shower, then using the water on the garden, or installing a more sophisticated system that re-uses your shower or bath water for flushing the toilet.

Make your toilet dual flush - A standard single-flush toilet can use up to 12 litres of water per flush, while a dual flush can use as little as three, so investing in a water-efficient toilet can result in big reductions in bathroom water use. If you can't afford a new 'water saver' toilet, you can minimise the water used to flush by placing a brick in the cistern.

Ensure your bathroom is water tight - Dripping taps and leaking toilets can be major water wasters of bathroom water, wasting up to 16,000 litres a year. Replace tap washers regularly and check your toilet for leaks by adding some food colouring to the cistern - if coloured water appears in the bowl before the toilet is flushed, you'll need to have it fixed.

Use a shower timer - Many of us become absorbed in the steamy luxury of a hot shower and lose track of time. To ensure that your showers are not too long, why not use a regular kitchen timer? Set it for four minutes - that's plenty of time to get yourself clean, while being short enough to save water.

With these simple steps, you'll save water in the bathroom and add a fair few drips to the water saving fund. 

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