How Australian consumers save water
Water conservation is a high priority for most households and it's undertaken in a variety of ways.
Almost two-thirds of Australian households believe their efforts to actively save water in the home are either excellent or good, with the vast majority of respondents taking a variety of actions to improve water efficiency and conserve the flow of H2O.
The Australian Water Association and independent engineering firm Arup recently released the results of a new report, the Australian Water Outlook, which investigates the challenges facing water resources in Australia, canvassing responses from the industry and wider community.
The study found that less than 1% of the community reported taking no action to save water, while most respondents utilised a range of sustainable practices, from taking shorter showers to regularly monitoring water usage.
87% of Aussies have installed dual flush loos at their place in an effort to save water, while almost the same proportion (86%) turn off the tap when brushing their teeth.
Only one-third (33%) of households actively keep account of their water usage, while a minority (7%) cover their pools to reduce evaporation.
The overwhelming majority (88%) of community respondents said saving water and water efficiency were medium or high priorities, while older generations placed a greater level of importance on water conservation than more youthful members of the community.Almost three-quarters (74%) of Australian households report they're prepared to spend more on improving water efficiency, with industry respondents (79%) predicting this enthusiasm.
What's the motivation behind these preservation efforts? For most Aussies (79%) it's their desire to "do their bit for the environment", while many (70%) are inspired to use less given the scarcity of resources and in a few rare cases (4%), the government's energy rebate is an appealing incentive.
Australians are using less water but bills are getting bigger (although this isn't the case in Sydney). Find out how saving water can help your wallet and understand the cash-saving benefits of solar hot water.Latest energy headlines
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