How much water does an average Australian household consume? Though water usage varies greatly across the country, on average, households consume about 340 litres of water per person, per day. That is about 1,437 cups of coffee! In dry, inland areas, the average amount used actually increases to 800 litres.
Where do we use our water?
We use up a lot of water, but what matters more than the amount of water we consume per day, is how we use it. Studies conducted by several Australian government bodies show that we use up to 35% of water to irrigate our gardens, while 19% of it is being flushed down the toilet.
To look at the raw numbers, an average toilet uses up to 12 litres of water per flush, while an average garden sprinkler uses up to 1,000 litres of water per hour.
While most people do not water their plants every day, these activities can have a cumulative impact over time. Treating water to make it usable for households is a costly, time-consuming process, which involves complex filtration and chemical treatments, with the water then pumped all the way back to your home. Like all major industrial operations, wastewater treatments can produce a lot of greenhouse gases, which has a negative effect on the environment.
Switching to Rainwater
We do need safe, clean water for activities that could directly affect our health, such as for cooking, bathing and drinking. A properly set up rainwater tank system is absolutely acceptable for these activities. Aside from these, we can use rainwater for activities that consume the most water — namely watering our gardens and flushing our toilets.
By switching to a poly water tank to collect rainwater, you can harness this natural source of water to use at home. By switching to rainwater for your houseplants, you can save a tremendous amount of treated water, doing your part to protect the environment. After all, you will be saving up to 35% of the water you consume.
Do you want your own rainwater collection system? Learn more about our rainwater tanks and contact us today.
