Water Use
Melburnians have done a great job of saving water since the introduction of water restrictions.
It’s still possible for us all to save more.
Australia has one of the highest per capita water consumption rates in the world. While two thirds of all the people on Earth use less than 60 litres of water a day, the average Australian uses more than twice that amount during a single shower. In fact, Australians are among the biggest users of water in the world, especially around the home.
How much water do you use?
Use the Home Water Investigator to build a water usage report for your house.
Room by room, item by item - find out how much water you use, where it goes and how you can conserve it.
To let the Home Water Investigator calculate your water use as accurately as possible, you have to tell it about your family, how many cars you have, where you live and how big your house is.
At any time you can get a comprehensive report on water use, stormwater and sewage.
Daily Water Use for Melbourne
Melbourne’s average water use (million litres per day)
Per person average water use for Melbourne (litres per day select years)
Households use the majority of Melbourne’s water
More than half of the water from our reservoirs - about 60 per cent - is used by residential users, families at home.
About 30% used in industry - factories, businesses, schools and councils.
Around 10 per cent is called ‘non revenue’ water. This includes leaks, water used by fire-fighters, stolen or is unaccounted for as a result of meter inaccuracies.
- 20% of water used at home is in the garden.
- 30% is used in the shower.
- 50% is used for washing clothes, flushing the toilet, using the dishwasher, having baths and other general tap use.
Source: State Water Report 2004/05
Storages would be significantly lower without conservation
Melbourne’s storages 2002-2007
Links
- Target 155 website for advice and resources to help you meet the 155 litres per person per day target