Australia Yearbook - 2009-10

Household water use and
conservation
Households accounted for 11% of the total water
consumed in Australia in 2004–05 while
agriculture accounted for 65% (ABS, 2004–05).
Water supply and use needs to be understood in
the context of Australia's climate which is
characterised by highly variable rainfall between
regions, seasons and year-to-year. Since 2002,
many parts of Australia have been subject to
mandatory water restrictions in response to low
water availability due to drought. As urban
populations grow, there is added pressure on
existing water supplies.
Increasing numbers of households have installed
water conserving devices, including dual-flush
toilets and reduced-flow shower heads. In 2007,
81% of households had at least one dual-flush
toilet, up from 64% in 2001. At least one
water-efficient shower head was installed in the
dwellings of more than half of Australian
households (55%), up from 35% in 2001
(graph 2.19).
The most common source of water for Australian
households is mains water (graph 2.20). The
percentage of Australian households (93%) that
sourced their water from the mains/town supply
has remained steady between 1994 and 2007.
Nearly all (99%) of households in capital cities
were connected to mains/town water in 2007,
compared with 85% of households outside the
capital cities.
Although the majority of Australian dwellings
have mains/town water supply, other households
%
100
2.19 HOUSEHOLDS WITH WATER CONSERVATION DEVICES
Water-efficient shower head
Dual flush
80
60
40
20
0
2001 2007
Source: Environmental Issues: People's Views and Practices (4602.0).
%
100
2.20 SOURCES OF WATER FOR HOUSEHOLDS
80
60
40
20
0
Mains Grey water Rainwater Purchased
bottled
water
Rainwater
collected in
other container
Other
Source: Environmental Issues: People's Views and Practices (4602.0).
Chapter 2 — Environment 93