Ahead of World Water Day on Sunday, TasWater has surveyed Tasmanians on their water habits, including what motivates them to save water, and the one thing they refuse to compromise on at home.
More than 40% of respondents placed ‘shirt sniffer’ in the number one position of personality types, ahead of ‘water catcher,’ veggie bather’ and ‘plate licker.’
In the great Tasmanian shower debate, 15% admitted they spend nine minutes or more under the water, while 60% said they keep it to under five minutes.
When it comes to dishwashing, approximately one third said they rinse plates before the dishwasher – a habit that can use more water than necessary in many households, according to TasWater.
Asked what they refuse to compromise on, respondents nominated sparkling dishes as the biggest non-negotiable, followed by long showers and daily laundry.
TasWater says the survey revealed the biggest motivation to save water wasn’t guilt – it was practical: protecting the state’s water supply, followed closely by cost of living.
Sixty-eight per cent think Tasmanians are not good at saving water, with many admitting their biggest barrier is bad habits.
TasWater Head of Communications and Engagement, Liz Hafner said small behaviour changes could make a big difference to water use across the state.
“Most people want to do the right thing, but habits are hard to shift,” Mrs Hafner said.
“The good news is you don’t need to go without to save water. Even a shorter shower, skipping pre-rinsing on dishes, or finding a simple reuse habit at home can help protect supply.
“Those who took part in the survey also gave us some great, and at times interesting, water saving hacks such as ‘leaving buckets out in the rain to water the indoor plants’, ‘completing a water audit to make sure that I don’t have any undetected leaks’ and ‘not having children.’”
To mark World Water Day, TasWater is encouraging Tasmanians to pick one water-saving habit to try next week and stick with it.
Find more simple water saving tips here: 10 simple savers | TasWater. To find out more about World Water Day, visit: World Water Day | Your Say.
