A growing number of Australians are becoming concerned about the security of our water supplies on the back of extended periods of drought in parts of the country, and the threat of global warming.

Federal and state governments have been devising strategies to encourage water conservation in the community.

Both business and domestic water users have a responsibility to improve their water efficiency, and daily usage targets have been introduced in some towns and cities with this in mind.

Here are a couple of recommended ways to conserve water in your home.Install a water efficient dishwasher in your kitchen. This will save you money and energy too. It is important that you check that a dishwasher has a WELS (National Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards scheme) label) before you purchase it.

When you are running a tap for hot water, catch the cold water and store it in the fridge for drinking. Don’t just let the water run down the drain while it gets warmer, because it is a real waste.

The bathroom uses about forty percent of all household water. Anytime you purchase a bathroom appliance, check to make sure that it comes with a WELS label. A three-star shower head will only use nine litres of water each minute, but an old shower head will chew through 15 or 20 litres per minute. Get a three-star shower head!

The latest four-star toilets can save a household as much as 35,000 litres every year. These units will use only 4.5 litres for a full flush and 3 litres for a half flush.

So help reduce the strain on our rivers, dams and other water sources, and make your home a fortress of water conservation!