Shower Shorter. Save Water.

We get it. The shower is a safe space – it can be a place to relive moments and memories, to ponder or perform on stage, brainstorm the next great idea or wind down. But while you take the time to find your zen, our precious water supply is being wasted.

Make every drop count

In Melbourne, we're using more water than we're getting from rainfall. Weather patterns are changing – so there's never been a more important time to make every drop count.

Tip: How to keep your shower short? Choose a 4-minute song from our Spotify playlist and hop out when it's over.  

 

The good news?

More water is used in the shower than anywhere else in the home. So the less time you spend singing, studying or solving the worlds' problems in the shower, the less water goes down the drain.

And if saving water isn't enough reason to shave a few minutes off your soaking time, taking a shorter shower will also save energy, money and reduce carbon dioxide emissions too.

How exactly does a 4-minute shower make a difference?

Save water 

We already know that showers are the largest contributor to household water use. Less time in the shower = less water.

Save energy

On average 25% of a household's power use comes from heating water. By shortening your shower time, you'll reduce the energy used to heat up the water.

Reduce carbon emissions

The energy required to heat up water has a carbon footprint, larger than you might expect. Using less hot water (via a shorter shower) reduces carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

Save money

A combination of less water and energy being used means cheaper household bills.

That's a win, win, win, win!

Fast Facts

• Showers make up an average of 31 per cent of a typical household’s water use.
• Over the past 10 years, average shower times have increased from 6.5 minutes to 7 minutes.
• By reducing your shower time from the average 7.1 minutes to 4 minutes, you can:
  • save 27 litres of water per shower.*
  • save an average of $280 a year on water and energy bills.**
  • reduce an estimated 359 kg CO2-e emissions per annum*** – that’s the equivalent of a flight from Melbourne to Townsville!

The numbers behind the savings

*By reducing your shower time from the average 7.1 minutes to 4 minutes, you can save 27 litres per shower. 
Assumes typical flow rate of 9 litres per minute.

**Reduce your shower time to 4 minutes and you can save an average of $280 a year on water and energy bills. 
Assumes 3 persons in house, natural gas – storage 4 star unit, 7.1 minute average shower time to begin with.

***Estimated reduction of 359 kg CO2-e GHG emissions per annum. 
Assumes 7.1 minute down to 4 minute, 9 L/min flow rate, natural gas – storage 4 star hot water system, 3 person household, 1 shower per person per day.

Using water at home

Looking for more ways to save water? Visit our Saving water page.