With the combined dam levels approaching 60 per cent capacity, we're encouraging you to take up our new water saving challenge - 'How low can you go?' 

We know many of you don't like to waste water, and would also like tools and reminders to help you save. And while we all need to maintain behaviours like washing hands regularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, there are lots of other ways to save water around the home and garden. 

So, we've set the "How low can you go?" challenge to help preserve water storages. 

And what’s a challenge without a challenge master? Meet Henry, our very own H2O hero, he has some really easy tips to share about how his family saves water. 

By making a few simple changes to your everyday habits, the water savings can really add up.

Indoor Water Savings

Outdoor Water Savings

Let's do this... How low can you go?

Before you get started, write down your goals. You can set them individually, as a household or family. Putting a sticky note somewhere is always a great reminder. So remember, commitment is the key factor, take small steps until one day it is no longer an unusual activity but a habit. Be persistent, practice makes perfect.  

 
The kitchen, laundry and bathroom are areas where water can simply go down the drain. Reducing water waste inside the home is a lot easier with these ideas:    
  • Take shorter showers no longer than 4 minutes.

Challenge: Use a bucket to collect cold water and reuse it elsewhere.

  • Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth.

Challenge: Clean your teeth in the shower.

  • Use the half flush where you can.

Challenge: If it's yellow let it mellow and if it's brown...

  • Only do full loads in the dishwasher and washing machine.

Challenge: Keep a bucket handy for rinsing off dishes throughout the day.

Challenge: Keep your clothes for another day but don’t compromise on personal hygiene.

The garden is just one of the areas you can achieve huge savings without a lot of effort. Try these ideas:   
  • Avoid watering in the heat of the day – before 8am and after 4pm

Challenge: Capture water from other parts of the house to use on plants.

  • Wash your car on the lawn, not on the driveway

Challenge: Use a high-pressure hose or bucket.

  • Use a pool cover on your pool

Challenge: When the pool is in use, limit the bomb-diving.

  • Use a broom rather than the hose to clean driveways and hard surfaces

Challenge: Using a blower could save time and effort.  

 

 

There are plenty of ways you can keep track of your saving goals.

If you’re looking for instant results, you can read your water meter daily, weekly or whenever you like. Learn how.

Another way to keep track of progress is through your quarterly bill. 

For a family of four you can easily achieve some serious savings by sticking to these challenges and tips.
  • Showers, that’s around 40,000 litres of water and $156 over a whole year. 
  • Brushing teeth, that’s a saving of 29,200 litres and around $114 a year. 
  • Half flush that’s a saving of 43,800 litres and around $171 per year. 
  • Leaking taps, that’s a saving of 18,250 litres and $71 per year. 
  • Using a pool cover will save you 36,000 litres and $141 per year.

Saving water doesn’t stop there. Learn more about switching over to water sustainable practices that can save you money.

So go on, challenge yourself, you might be surprised how simple it is to save water and money too! 

If you'd like to share your handy tips, let us know and we'll publish them here.

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What are the current water conditions in my area?

There are no current water restrictions for Brisbane, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley and Somerset. Water restrictions are in place for some of our off-grid communities in the Scenic Rim.

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