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Using less water

The use of low flow shower heads, flow restrictors on taps and low flow, dual flush toilets in the Waitakere NOW Home® has proved to be very water efficient.  Total water use, including both reticulated water (from mains supply) and free water (from the rainwater tank), was 189 litres per person per day in the first year, dropping to 172 litres per person per day in the second year.  A maturing garden requiring less watering of new plants led to the drop in water consumption. 

Total water use is comparable to the Waitakere City Council average of 165 litres per person per day, and considerably better than averages from other parts of the country.

A pie chart of where water was used in the house confirms other research into water use.  The most water in the house was used in the shower (280 l/p/d), followed by the laundry (132 l/p/d) and toilets (105 l/p/d).  Simple measures such installing low flow shower heads, water efficient washing machines and dual flush toilets can reduce water bills in these major water use areas.

                       Water end uses in the Waitakere NOW Home®

Free water means more savings

It is even more impressive once the contribution of ‘free’ water from the rain tank is taken into account.

The 13,500L rain tank supplied 47% of the home’s water needs in year 1, and 52% in year 2.  The tenants used only an average 100 litres of reticulated water per person per day in Year 1, dropping to 85 litres per person per day in Year 2.  As their water supply is metered, this represents a considerable savings on water bills.   Overall Waitakere NOW Home reticulated water use in Year 1 was 40% less than the average in surrounding Waitakere City improving to 50% less in Year 2.