Help and advice
- For a customised action plan, use our free water audit service.
- Check the usage comparison chart on your bill. It shows how your consumption compares with households of a similar size.
- Auckland Council’s Retrofit Your Home programme helps you pay for sustainable features in your home. It now includes water efficiency appliances and rainwater tanks.
Download our waterwise tips:
Building or renovating?
When designing a new home or preparing to renovate, it’s worth talking to your plumber about installing a water-efficient plumbing system. It is the perfect opportunity to become more water efficient!
It’s also the best time to think about collecting rainwater and recycling greywater.
Tips for choosing your fittings
- Hot water cylinder: The location of the cylinder is important. If you minimise the distance between the cylinder and where the hot water is used, less water (and time) is wasted waiting for the water to reach the right temperature.
- Pressure: Although mains pressure is now more common in new homes, low pressure systems are cheaper to run as they use less water. If the pressure coming into your pipes is really high, you could talk to your plumber about installing a pressure limiting valve or flow restrictors.
- Water efficient fittings: Your plumber can also help you to select water-saving fittings such as low-flow showerheads. Most cost about the same as ordinary fittings of a similar quality.
Choosing appliances: efficiency labelling
When buying a new appliance, think about how much water it will use. The more waterefficient it is, the less you will spend on water and electricity bills.
The Ministry for the Environment’s Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme makes it easy for you to tell how efficient an appliance is. In the appliance store, a water rating label should be on or alongside the appliance. The more stars, the more water efficient the appliance is.
The labelling scheme applies to :
- washing machines
- dishwashers
- toilets
- showers
- taps
- urinals.