A single dripping tap can waste up to 5 litres of water a day - and that adds up fast. Leaks around the home, whether from taps, toilet cisterns or pipes, often go unnoticed but can have a big impact on your water use. 

Start by checking for hidden leaks: 

• Try the 2-minute leak test using your water meter to see if water is flowing when it shouldn’t be.
• Place a cup under each tap before heading out. More than a dribble? It could be time to replace the washer.
• Add food dye to your toilet cistern. If the bowl changes colour after 15 minutes, you've got a leak – possibly wasting 100 litres a day. 

Fixing leaks early is one of the easiest ways to save water and money. Replacing a washer is often all it takes to stop a dripping tap. If you're not confident doing it yourself, contact a licensed plumber. 

Need help to take control of your water use? You can investigate a high water bill or consider a home water efficiency audit. Some leaks can be hard to find, and you may need to contact a registered plumber to inspect your property.

Here are some helpful hints to save water in the kitchen: 

• Use a plug in the sink instead of running the tap while washing dishes.
• Washing a full sink of dishes or using water-efficient dishwasher can save up to 10 litres of water a day. If you’ve only got a few items, fill the sink just a third of the way.
• Thirsty? Fill a jug with fresh water and keep it in the fridge so you don’t have to wait for tap water to run cold.
• Wash your veggies in a bowl and use the water collected to water your plants.
• Installing a low-flow tap, or inexpensive flow-controlled aerator can reduce the flow to save water
• If you’re planning home improvements, replace old taps, and appliances with water-efficient models. The higher the WELs rating, the more efficient the product. Find out more about Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards.

Did you know that the bathroom uses more than half your household’s indoor water? 

Try these water-saving tips:

• Turn off the tap while brushing teeth or shaving – running water wastes up to 10 litres per minute.
• Showers are the biggest water user at home. By shaving just a minute off your shower you could save up to 9 litres of drinking water (and money on your energy bills too!).
• Switch to a water-efficient shower head. There has been great improvement on water-efficient shower head products in recent years, so they look good and use less water. Look for 4 or 5 star WELS-rated models.
• Think before you flush. A half flush uses 3 litres, while a full flush uses around 6 litres. Use the half flush for pee and paper and save the full flush for solids.
• Love a bath? Keep them occasional, fill only what you need, and adjust the temperature as it fills. Reuse the cooled bathwater on your garden.

A lot of water and energy can be used in the laundry, but small changes make a big difference. 

• Wash full loads to get the most from each cycle and choose cold water and eco modes to save water, energy and money.
• Upgrade wisely. Check star ratings on new appliances and choose models with high water and energy efficiency.
• Look for the WELS label or visit the Water Rating website to compare water-efficient product options before you buy.

If you have young children at home, it’s a great time to build water-wise habits early. 

Meet Welly, Washy, Wavy and Wade—the Water Watchers! 

This friendly squad from another planet has landed to help kids (and adults!) remember to turn off the tap and use water wisely. 

Explore a range of fun, educational tools and activities featuring these characters at Water Watchers. 

Melburnians are encouraged to Target 150 litres per person per day. If your water use seems high, your water bill is a good place to start – it shows how many litres your household is using so you can see how you compare. 

Not sure where the water is going? 

• For simple tools that can help you spot issues and understand your usage, visit our high water use page.
• For an interactive water-saving tool that helps you visualise your water habits room by room, visit Blue House.

The Victorian Government's Permanent Water Saving Rules were introduced in 2011 and are always in place to help manage our water efficiently. 

These rules are uniform across Victoria and are included in each water corporation's permanent water saving plan. 

Learn about the rules by visiting Permanent Water Saving Rules.