This is sponsored content for Hunter Water.
Did you know that in the Hunter we're using more water per person a day than our neighbours in the Central Coast and in south east Queensland?
On average, Hunter Water customers use approximately 190 to 200 litres per person per day. In comparison, areas like the Central Coast, south east Queensland and Melbourne use around 10 to 20 per cent less.
It shows there's plenty more we can be doing as a community to reduce our water consumption.
Like other areas across New South Wales, the severe drought is taking its toll on the Lower Hunter's water storages, which are at their lowest levels in more than two decades.
The amount of water we use has an impact on our dam levels. As we approach Level 1 water restrictions in mid-September, Hunter Water is calling on everyone across the region to save their four - four buckets..
If we all saved four buckets of water a day, together we could reduce demand and ensure our dams are in the best position heading into summer.
Saving your four can be easy, by making small, simple changes at home.
In the shower:
Reducing your daily shower to four minutes is a great place to start. The shower is the largest water user in the home, but every minute reduced in the shower, is a bucket of water saved.
An easy way to keep track of the time is by using a shower timer or showering for the length of your favourite song.
In the laundry and kitchen:
Another simple way to save water is to wait until you have a full load before using the washing machine or dishwasher. An average household could save up to 15,000 litres of water over the course of a year.
Add to your water savings by scraping your dishes instead of rinsing them in the sink.
In the bathroom:
You could save yourself another bucket of water by turning off the tap when brushing your teeth. Did you know that turning off the tap each time you brush your teeth can save up to 10 litres a day?
Other ways to conserve water in the bathroom include only using the full flush when you need to, or if you're renovating, look for a 3 Star or higher WELS rated shower head.
Fixing leaks around the home:
A few drips from a leaking tap may not seem like much, but when multiplied over the course of a few days, months or a year it's easy to see how precious those few drops are.
Hunter Water estimates leaking taps and running toilets in households across the region contributes to more than two million litres of water being lost each year. That's enough water to supply almost 12 households for a year.
Many household leaks can be fixed by simply changing the washers or tightening the fittings. For those not confident to have a go themselves, it is recommended you call a plumber.
In the long run, fixing leaks and dripping taps will not only save water, but will save money on your water bill as well.
For more tips on how to save your four, head to Hunter Water's website where you'll find lots more advice.
This is sponsored content for Hunter Water.