Here's some interesting water facts and stats you may not be aware of:
- Australia's rainfall is the lowest of all continents in the world (excluding Antarctica). Despite this, Australia has one of the highest per capita water consumption rates in the world.
- While two thirds of all the people on Earth use less than 60 litres of water a day, the average Australian uses more than twice that amount during a single shower.
- If everybody in metropolitan Melbourne cut just 1% of their yearly water consumption, there would be enough water saved to fill 2,500 Olympic size swimming pools.
- As of the time of writing:
- Sydney's available water storage is approximately 38%
- Melbourne water storage levels are at approximately 30%
- Brisbane water storage levels are at approximately 20.5%
- Perth water storage levels at approx 21.3%
- Our major cities are on the following water restrictions:
- Sydney - Stage 3 water restrictions
- Melbourne - Stage 3a water restrictions
- Brisbane - Stage 5 water restrictions
- Adelaide - Stage 3 water restrictions
- Perth - Stage 4 water restrictions
- CSIRO modelling predicts that global warming will cut future rainfall in southern Australia by up to 20 per cent.
- A 4 minute shower uses approximately 35 Litres of water. 7 showers per week per year adds up to around 13,100 Litres of water for each person in the household.
8 Comments
very useful and interesting facts. some of them shock me and make me realise how easily water is wasted.
I don’t think i knew that australia has the lowest rainfall of all the continets. No Shit Sherlock!!!
You know, I live in the driest part of australia and I would NEVER have known we had the lowest rain fall. I mean, I haven’t seen rain in nearly three years.
Hi Marija, i also live in One Of The driest parts of australia and bloody other places are complaning of how hot it is they should have come to where we live and have no rain and Friging 48 degree heat!!!!
In Sydney it may not be so hot but i think the city planners made a big mistake in their dam placements, with severely damaged pipes wasting tonnes of water daily and why are there no water saving shower heads in public bathrooms&beaches? the government has much to answer for in the depletion of our water. It is up to individuals to minimize wastage at home but did you know home water usage only counts for only 9% of the cities water usage? Large companies and industrial businesses should also be targeted and get water wise, there are larger problems that need to be fixed, it is government and big corporation greed that is keeping us thirsty.
Australians use around 35-50% of our household water outside in the garden. We could be very water efficient outdoors just by changing a few little things. A garden hose uses about 1000 litres an hour. Use a trigger hose and you can save more water when you move around. Use a broom to sweep the paths instead of a hose to water it down. Don’t empty your pool in winter. Instead keep it clean throughout winter so it will be clan for summer. Wash your car and pets on the lawn it waters your lawn for the day and you don’t waste water by washing them anywhere else.
Australians are one of the most people who use the most water in the world, yet we live in a very dry country. Our river and land are increasingly under stress and water resources for our cities becoming less reliable. The good news is using less water is easy. You can do all the things you do right now- like have a good hot shower- just don’t use as much water and while your waiting for the hot to run through put a bucket under the water head and water some plants with the left over water. Nearly half the water we use in our home is used in the bathroom. Toilets use more than anything else, Up to twelve litres for each flush.
But a new AAA rated dual flush toilets can use just 3 or 6 litres. In the shower, new AAA showerheads use less than 10 litres per minute compared with up to 20 litres for a normal head. When you’re buying a water using appliances, look for the water conserve rating- the more the better. Another easy way to save water is to use a plug. A fully running tap can waste nearly seventeen litres per minute. When you was fruit or hands or rinsing the dishes, shaving it is better to use a half filled sink rather than a full sink or a running tap. When your brushing your teeth only use a glass of water to rinse your mouth. Every drop counts. Fix all leaks, fit tap aerators.Always do a full load of washing and dishwashers. Also introduce a grey water system. At present an average Australian household uses 240,000 litres or 5 domestic swimming pools of fresh water each year. Around 13% of this is flushed down the toilet and another 32% is used in the garden. Fortunately, saving water around the home is simple.
A BREAKDOWN OF WATER USE IN THE HOME:

Australian water crisis facts
April 9, 2007 on 12:37 pm | In media water stories |
Here’s some interesting water facts and stats you may not be aware of:
Australia’s rainfall is the lowest of all continents in the world (excluding Antarctica). Despite this, Australia has one of the highest per capita water consumption rates in the world.
While two thirds of all the people on Earth use less than 60 litres of water a day, the average Australian uses more than twice that amount during a single shower.
If everybody in metropolitan Melbourne cut just 1% of their yearly water consumption, there would be enough water saved to fill 2,500 Olympic size swimming pools.
As of the time of writing:
Sydney’s available water storage is approximately 38%
Melbourne water storage levels are at approximately 30%
Brisbane water storage levels are at approximately 20.5%
Perth water storage levels at approx 21.3%
Our major cities are on the following water restrictions:
Sydney - Stage 3 water restrictions
Melbourne - Stage 3a water restrictions
Brisbane - Stage 5 water restrictions
Adelaide - Stage 3 water restrictions
Perth - Stage 4 water restrictions
CSIRO modelling predicts that global warming will cut future rainfall in southern Australia by up to 20 per cent.
A 4 minute shower uses approximately 35 Litres of water. 7 showers per week per year adds up to around 13,100 Litres of water for each person in the household.
The great Australian dream includes having a lawn. That is what is stucking the rivers dry. If people are to maintain a garden in a sensible way then rain water tanks need to be installed.
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