Discover how you are using water by conducting a Water Audit. This is a fun way to learn about how water is used in the Urban Water Cycle.
Step 1: Find out how much water you use
Step 2: Where do you use most water
Step 3: How can you save water
Water Usage Calculator
Try out the Hunter Water: Water Usage Calculator to calculate how much water you use each year. The Water Use table lists how many litres of water are used for common household activities each day. You can also use this to calculate how much water you use each day and help you find areas to reduce consumption and become Waterwise.
| WATER USE | LITRES |
| Toilet (Single flush cistern) Toilet (Duel Flush) | 11 litres 3 litres for a half flush 6 litres for a full flush |
| Bath | 100 litres |
| Shower (standard shower head) Shower (low flow shower head) | 20 litres/minute 10 litres/minute |
| Dishwasher load | 12 litres |
| Washing machine load | 90 litres |
| Brushing teeth with tap running | 5 litres/minute |
| Drinking, cooking, cleaning | 10 litres person/day |
| Hand basin per use | 5 litres |
| Garden sprinkler | 15 litres/minute |
| Garden dripper per hour | 15 litres/minute |
| Car Washing with hose | 15 litres/minute |
| Hosing driveway | 15 litres/minute |
| A dripping tap can waste up to | 200 litres of water/day |
| Leaking or running toilet | 500 litres of water/day |
The Natural Water Cycle
The natural water cycle shows the constant movement of water around the world. Water moves through the processes of evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation, run-off, infiltration and percolation.
The Urban Water Cycle
The natural water cycle has been modified by people to ensure a constant water supply and the safe disposal of wastewater. The Urban Water Cycle incorporates the Water Supply System, Wastewater system and the Stormwater system.
Why is Water Important
Water is the most common substance found on earth, so why is it important? Water is essential for all forms of life and can dissolve nearly anything. It can exist as a gas (water vapour and steam), a liquid (water) and a solid (ice).
How to be Waterwise
Water is essential for all life and is the most abundant substance on Earth, yet water scarcity is one of the biggest issues facing us today. Australia is the world’s driest inhabited continent and 2019 was the hottest and driest year on record.
