Water Awareness

An average Australian household uses 300,000 litres of water a year.

Australia's water use is the third highest in the world, after the US & Canada, according to an OECD report.

The average global rainfall is 746 millimeters a year - the average Australian rainfall is just 469 millimeters a year.

Any water that has been used in the home, except water from toilets, is called greywater.

Dishwasher, shower, sink and laundry water comprise 50-80% of residential "waste" water. This may be reused for other purposes, especially landscape irrigation.

In most Australian homes water heating accounts for approximately 28 - 30% of energy consumption.

The amount of wastewater generated by any household varies greatly according to the number of people, their age and lifestyle. Sydney Water estimates that an average household (3.5 people) produces 586 litres of wastewater each day.

The water used for human consumption only represents approximately 5% of total water used, the other 95% is used for toilets, showers & baths, washing clothes & watering gardens.

Did you know that the NSW Government has made it compulsory that all homes sold, new or old, in 2007 will require a water tank?

Have you heard of BASIX - The Building Sustainability Index? BASIX ensures each dwelling design meets the NSW Government's targets of: 40% reduction in water consumption and 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, compared with the average home. The greenhouse target will increase to 40% from July 2006.