Three Top Tips for Water-wise Apartment Living

By Nicola Saltman on October 25, 2016 in Other

Ever had the feeling that money flows through your hands like water? If you haven’t fixed your leaks or installed water-saving appliances in your apartment, you may literally be pouring money down the drain. With three-quarters of our local population living in units, that’s a lot of wet dosh.

Contrary to popular belief, it’s not an apartment block’s pool or large gardens that are the thirsty culprits.

“Most people are surprised when they find that over 85 per cent of all water used in an apartment building is used within individual apartments (not common facilities),” Andre Boerema of Sydney Water said.

The good news is that it’s often easier to save water in apartments than houses, with significant consumption cuts for the whole building. A recent review of 30 apartment buildings in the City of Sydney showed the potential to reduce apartment buildings’ water use by 25 per cent.

Why care?
Strata owners enjoy reduced bills (i.e. less money down the drain), which may mean reduced rents for tenants, according to Christine Byrne from non-profit organisation GreenStrata. You’re also kicking goals for our environment by reducing pressure on dams and rivers, plus cutting carbon emissions by using less energy for heating and pumping water. With apartments accounting for 30 per cent of water use across the Eastern Suburbs, there’s plenty to gain.

So how do you reap the benefits?
According to water efficiency engineer Adam Jones of BMT WBM, repairing leaks and reducing flow of water efficient showerheads and taps provide the easiest wins, with the bonus of energy bill savings.

Ms Byrne’s previous apartment block saved 20 per cent on water consumption when the owners’ corporation organised a bulk change in showerheads and flow restrictors in all units, through Sydney Water’s ‘Waterfix’ program. They enjoy $11,500 in savings each year.

So with National Water Week (October 16-22) on our doorstep, it’s a good time for making water-wise apartment living second nature. Here are three great places to start…

1. Showers – Showers account for half of all water used in apartments. Install water-efficient showerheads or flow controllers sourced from local hardware stores. Of course, shorter showers always help – three to four minutes or the length of your favourite song (excluding Bohemian Rhapsody) should do. You can email secondnature@waverley.nsw.gov.au for a free shower timer.

2. Taps – Fit tap aerators and flow controllers to your existing taps to reduce water use by more than half. If in the market for new taps, choose new 3-star models, including lever, mixer and quarter-turn styles. They use about half the amount of water as a standard tap.

3. Leaks – Fixing leaks is a simple way to slash consumption. One leaking toilet can waste up to 250,000 litres per month.

For more info about saving water, get along to Waverley Council’s free workshop at 6pm on Wednesday, October 19 at Waverley Library. You can register at secondnature.org.au/water_savings_in_apartments or by calling 9083 8023.