Water has many functions in the kitchen. From cooking to washing the dishes, we use water for many of life's daily tasks. Learning to use water wisely will not only benefit the environment, but your wallet, too!
Water Wise Kitchen Tips

Dishwasher Duties

  • Run full dishwasher loads rather than washing dishes by hand to maximize water savings.
  • Look for “eco” or “quick wash” settings on your dishwasher that use less water.
  • Buy a water- and energy-efficient model when looking for a new dishwasher. Look for ENERGY STAR® rating with a water consumption of 13L per cycle for standard dishwashers and a compact dishwashers 12L.

Scrape Your Plate

  • Scrape dishes instead of rinsing them under running water before loading your dishwasher. For heavy cleaning of grills or oven parts, pre-soak them overnight.
  • Compost kitchen waste (organic matter) instead of using a garburator. Garburators consume hundreds of litres of water each week and send organic matter down the drain, which increases the load on water treatment facilities and can contribute excess nutrients into waterbodies.
  • Avoid putting  leftover fats, oils and grease down the drain.

Save Water

  • Plug the sink or use a tub when hand washing dishes. Avoid washing or rinsing dishes with running water.
  • Hand wash large pots and bowls to make space for more dinnerware in the dishwasher.
  • Defrost food in the fridge overnight so that it doesn't need to be thawed under running water, or fill a bowl with cold water to thaw the food.
  • Rinse fruit and vegetables in a pan instead of with running water, and use the leftover water for plant watering.
  • Save the water from cooking vegetables for soups gravies, sauces or plants.

 

Keep it Cool

  • Keep a bottle or jug of drinking water in the refrigerator rather than running the tap for cold water.
  • Use the same glass or water bottle for the entire day instead of reaching for a new glass each time. You’ll be surprised at how much less dinnerware you’ll have to wash!
  • When at a restaurant, decline a glass of water if you know you will not drink it.
Learn how to save water in other parts of the home through the links below: