These water-saving wins take less effort than you think – and yes, you can still water your lawn to keep it green during summer.
It’s been a scorching start to 2026, with days in the 40s already behind us – and when the temperature climbs, so does your household water use.
More showers, more laundry, more backyard chaos – from garden hoses to paddling pools – and suddenly your summer water bill’s creeping up.
The good news? Cutting your water use doesn’t have to mean cutting comfort. In fact, some of the easiest ways to save water (and money) take almost zero effort.
Whether you rent or own, here are 15 surprisingly simple ways to keep your summer water bill in check – with help from SA Water. And you won’t need to sacrifice the good stuff (because backyard Super Soaker battles are a summer essential).
1. Shorter showers make the biggest difference
Showers are one of the biggest water users in any household – especially in summer when you’re jumping in more often to cool off. Just by trimming them to four minutes, you can save thousands of litres a year, with just one minute less in the shower every day equating to a combined saving of 4,000 litres of water each year.
If timers aren’t your thing, pick a four-minute banger to belt out. Heat Waves by Glass Animals, drivers license by Olivia Rodrigo and Cardigan by Taylor Swift are all the right length – or go old school with Believe by Cher, That Don’t Impress Me Much by Shania or Water Under the Bridge by Adele. When the song ends, so does the shower.
2. Swap your shower head, not your comfort
Some older shower heads chew through 20-plus litres of water every minute. Water-efficient models use nine litres a minute or less – that’s more than halving your water use instantly.
It’s a cheap fix, and one of the most effective water-saving upgrades you can make. If you’re renting, it’s also often an easy swap you can discuss with your landlord.
Bonus: Depending on your shower head and habits, a shallow bath can actually use less water than a long shower. So if you really hate short showers – or just need some me-time – pour in the bath salts and soak for as long as you like.
3. Turn taps off when you’re not using them
Brushing your teeth, shaving, removing a face mask – if the tap’s running through it all, that’s litres of water down the drain. Same goes for rinsing your face or washing your hands.
Turn the tap off until you actually need it, and you’ll save up to nine litres a minute. It’s the easiest fix in the house.
4. Install tap aerators or flow restrictors
These tiny fittings mix air into the water stream, cutting the flow without affecting pressure. They’re cheap, easy to install, and can save thousands of litres a year – especially on older taps that gush.
Look for WELS-rated models (they’re included in Australia’s water efficiency labelling scheme), and consider asking your landlord about them if you rent.
5. Check your toilet for leaks (it takes two minutes)
Even a barely visible toilet leak can waste over 4,000 litres a year – and a constant trickle? Up to 96,000 litres. That’s water you’re paying for, and not even using.
The fastest way to check? Add a few drops of food colouring to your toilet cistern and wait 10 minutes. If colour shows up in the bowl without flushing, you’ve got a leak – and it’s worth fixing sooner rather than later.
While we’re on toilets: dual flush is best if you’re installing a new one – but they only save water if you actually use the half-flush. If you’re always hitting the full button out of habit, you’re flushing away the benefits.
6. Use your dishwasher properly (and stop rinsing everything)
Most modern dishwashers actually work better when the dishes are a bit dirty – the detergent needs something to latch onto. If you’re rinsing first, you’re just rinsing money away.
Scrape off leftovers and stack it up – and make sure it’s full before you hit start. A modern water-efficient dishwasher can use as little as 12–15 litres per cycle, while handwashing under a running tap can easily double or triple that. Bonus points if you use the eco setting or a half-load option (if your machine has one).
And please – keep the scraps out of the sink. Your pipes don’t need that kind of drama.
7. Give your clean clothes another go
Wore a button-up or sundress to after-work drinks in the aircon? You probably don’t need to wash it yet. If it’s not stained, smelly or sweaty, hang it back up for another round.
Same goes for bras – they don’t need to be washed after every wear unless they’re sweaty or dirty.
8. Only run your washing machine when it’s full
When it is time to do laundry, wait until you’ve got a full load – or adjust your machine’s settings to suit the size. Running half loads wastes water, and if your machine has an eco or short cycle, using it can cut both water and energy use. Easy win.
9. Find and fix the leaks you can’t see
Some of the largest leaks can be completely invisible.
Leaking taps, toilets and pipes can quietly chew through your water bill. A dripping tap alone can waste thousands of litres a year.
Hidden leaks are harder to spot, but your water meter can help (if you don’t know where it is, help is here). To check, take a reading from your meter, then avoid using any water for an hour or two. If the numbers move, there’s likely a leak somewhere.
For renters, that’s a sign to report it quickly. For homeowners, fixing leaks early can prevent both water wastage and much bigger repair bills down the track.
10. Keep water in the fridge
You know the dance – turn on the tap, wait ages for it to get cold, then fill your glass or drink bottle.
Instead, keep a bottle or jug of tap water in the fridge so it’s cold and ready when you need it – and skip the endless “wait for it to get cold” tap-running cycle.
11. Wash your veggies in a bowl, not under the tap
At the kitchen sink, one of the biggest traps is letting water run. Washing your fruit or veg in a bowl instead of under a running tap uses far less – and the leftover water is perfect for pot plants or the garden.
12. Grow your garden with less waste
Outdoor water use jumps in summer, but saving water doesn’t mean letting everything die.
If you’re planning or refreshing a garden, native plants are a smart long-term win. They’re adapted to local conditions, need far less water once established, and usually require less maintenance overall.
If you’ve already got thirsty plants – exotic or native – to keep alive, water early in the morning or in the evening or most of the water will be lost to evaporation.
Mulch helps too – a decent layer on your garden beds or potted plants holds in moisture and reduces evaporation, so you don’t need to water as often. Less effort, lower bills, happier plants.
13. Water your lawn smarter – not more
If you’ve got a lawn (especially one the kids or housemates actually use), there’s no shame in keeping it alive. But the trick isn’t watering more – it’s watering better.
Just like with watering your plants, the key is to water early in the morning or in the evening to minimise evaporation, and aim for deep watering less often to encourage strong root growth. And if your lawn goes brown in the heat, don’t panic – many common grasses bounce back once conditions ease.
You also want to water for longer time periods, less frequently. Watering your lawn 1-2 times a week for half an hour each time is much better than watering your lawn six times a week for only 15 minutes. You want to train your lawn to be more drought-tolerant, rather than making it thirstier!
14. Rinse and reuse – on the lawn
Whether you’re rinsing off the dog post-beach or washing the car, do it on the lawn instead of the driveway. That way, the water gets reused and your garden gets a bonus drink.
And if you’re using a hose, make sure it’s fitted with a trigger nozzle so it only flows when you need it (but really – buckets are better!).
15. For the long haul: Look for the stars
You don’t need to replace working appliances just to save water – but when the time comes, water efficiency matters.
Products sold in Australia carry a water-efficiency star rating (WELS). More stars = less water used. That applies to shower heads, dishwashers, washing machines and even toilets – and those small differences really stack up over time.
It’s an easy way to make sure future-you doesn’t get stung by unnecessarily higher water bills.
For more practical tips on saving water and cutting your summer water bill, visit sawater.com.au.
