Time to be water wise as water costs climb. We show you how.

Australia’s water consumption might be coming down but the cost of water is climbing rapidly, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) annual water account, released today.

According to the report, the average annual water bill was up 12 per cent in 2013-14, to $584 per household, despite a 6 per cent drop in consumption.

Mark Lound from the ABS said the eastern states of NSW and Victoria experienced the biggest increases.

“In 2013-14 Australian households spent more than $5 billion dollars on water, paying an average of $3.08 per thousand litres. New South Wales and Victoria experienced the highest increases in household water prices, up by 27 per cent and 24 per cent respectively,” he said.

“South Australian householders paid the most in Australia at an average of $4.29 per thousand litres.”

As summer approaches, and each state experiences scorching temperatures, it’s important to keep water saving tips front of mind.

Not only will they help reduce your water, and potentially your energy bills, they’ll also get your family into the habit of using water saving measures every day without even thinking about them.

RateCity’s put together a list of our top 15 water savings tips to help reduce the toll of excess water use on your bank balance, and the environment.

1. Check the house for leaks. A single leaky tap can waste 2000 litres of water a month, according to Sydney Water.
2. Invest in a front-loading washing machine, which uses less water than a top loader.
3. Switch to a WELS 3-star rated shower head.
4. Only put your dishwasher on when full.  Avoid rinsing your dishes beforehand under a running tap.
5. Use a bowl or a small sink of water to wash your fruit and vegetables.
6. Put a bucket in the shower and use the water collected on your garden.
7. Buy a shower timer for Christmas and find out who in your house can have the fastest shower.
8. Pick hardy plants that don’t need much watering.
9. Water your garden in the morning to avoid the water evaporating.
10. Wash your car with a bucket, not the hose!
11. If you have a pool, consider using a cover to help slow evaporation.
12. Turn the tap off after you wet your toothbrush.
13. Put a bottle of water in the fridge so you don’t have to let the tap run cold when getting a glass of water.
14. Use mulch on your garden beds to help keep water in the soil.
15. If you have a large garden, invest in a rainwater tank, or consider installing water collection ‘butts’ to downpipes

Extra resources:

• Sydney Water – water savings tips
• Buy water saving equipment – Bunnings
• Australia Government’s water ratings

More savings measures

• Five clever household budgeting tips
• Top ten best blogs to save you money
• Savings calculator

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