Saving Water - Every Drop Counts Quiz

Answer: Fresh water

Only 3% of the world's water is fresh. Of this 3% of fresh water, less than one third of 1% of this water is available for human use. The remainder is frozen in polar ice caps, glaciers or is unreachable deep down in the earth. Another way of looking at it is if 100 litres of water were in front of you representing the world's water, only half of a tablespoon is available to you as fresh water.

Answer: Australia

Australia is the driest populated continent with average rainfall of 469mm per year, whereas the global average is 746mm per year. Antarctica is drier but is not populated in the same numbers as Australia (having no permanent residents).

Australia is also the highest consumer of water per person. On average, each person uses 100,000 litres of fresh water per year. This figure does not include the water used in the products we buy and use every day, which all need water to be created.

Answer: 1 hamburger

It takes 2400 litres of water to create a hamburger, 2000 litres to create a t-shirt, 140 litres to create a cup of coffee and 32 litres of water to create a microchip. The water used in creating the hamburger includes water to grow the food the cow eats, water that the cow drinks, water for processing the meat and also water for cleaning the cow.

When we think of water usage we usually think of only the water we use from our taps. All the things we use every day need water to create them including our clothing, furniture, building materials and just about everything else we use.

Answer: A 3 star energy efficient showerhead

A 3 star energy efficient showerhead uses only 9 litres of water per minute where regular showerheads use between 15-20 litres per minute. If you shower for 6 minutes you would use 54 litres of water instead of 90-120 litres, a possible saving of between 13,000 and 24,000 litres per person per year.

A tap that drips ten times per minute will waste 3000 litres of water in a year. The excess water collected with a bucket can be used to wash your car or on the garden as long as soaps and detergents used are checked first to see if they will harm your plants. A glass for rinsing after brushing is much better than leaving the tap running as it wastes about 16 litres per minute.

Answer: Use energy efficient appliances

Energy efficient appliances are the most effective way to save water in the kitchen and laundry. Some regular washing machines use 150 litres per wash and dishwashers can use 50 litres per wash. Energy efficient front loader washing machines use 50% less water than a regular machine.

Only using your washing machine and dishwasher when full will also save water and energy costs as well. Putting the plug in the sink while you wash dishes or vegetables will save 16 litres of water going down the drain every minute.

Answer: All of these

Using a pool cover prevents 95% of evaporation from the pool and also helps to keep the pool free from debris resulting in less chemicals being used to keep it clean. A rainwater diverter uses the water collected from your roof via a hose, directing water into the pool which tops up the pool water level. Maintaining the chemical levels in the pool keeps the pool clean, which eliminates the need to empty and refill the pool with fresh water.

Answer: All of these

Mulch (pine-bark, stones, pea-straw, compost, cow and horse manure) acts as a blanket in the garden reducing water evaporation and keeping the soil cool, which means less water being used to maintain the plants. Dripper irrigation systems are more effective at getting the water to the roots of the plants than sprayers and less water is wasted through evaporation and wind.

When soil dries out it repels water instead of retaining it and soil wetting agents or water crystals can help by making the water more available to the plants.

Answer: Rainwater tank

Many rural properties in Australia are not connected to mains water and have been using rainwater tanks to collect water for over a century. The most common use for rainwater is in the garden but it can also be connected to toilets and laundries to save fresh water being used.

In 2007 local governments in Australia provided rebates to consumers who purchased rainwater tanks and water saving devices.

Answer: On vegetable plants that will be eaten raw

Great care must be taken when using greywater as it contains bacteria and contaminants that may be harmful to humans. Water from the kitchen and dishwasher cannot be used for greywater as the water contains food scraps, chemicals and fats.

Greywater should not be used on vegetables that will be eaten raw and must be used within 24 hours of collecting, unless the water has been treated to purify it. A permanent greywater system must be installed by a plumber and requires local council approval in Australia.

Answer: True

Leaking taps, pipes and toilets lose great amounts of water every year without us even knowing about it. To find out if you have a leak, write down the reading of your water meter and then check it again two hours later. You would need to make sure that no one uses water in the house during this time. If the reading has changed, you have a leak that needs repairing.

To check if your toilet is leaking, put some food colouring into the top of the cistern. Leave it and don't flush for at least an hour. If the colouring has gone into the bowl after the hour has passed, you have a leak that could be wasting huge amounts of water. If your toilet has a continual hissing sound, you definitely have a leak that will need repairing.