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Turn down the thermostat on your hot water unit if you are going away for a few days or turn it off if you are going away for a few weeks

If your hot water unit is on a timer, make sure it is set properly. One hour should be enough time to heat most modern hot water units

If you have a gas boosted solar hot water unit, turn off the gas supply to it in the summer. There will be enough energy from the solar panel to do the job

Dripping taps or toilets. A leaking toilet cistern can be extremely wasteful - up to 60,000 litres of water in a year! To test your cistern, place a few drops of food colouring in the toilet bowl. If it's getting through, without flushing, it's time to call a plumber

Hidden leaks. Undetected leaks can be extremely wasteful and costly. A way to check for leaks is to read the water meter late at night and early the next morning to see if water was running while everyone was asleep

Leave a bucket in the shower while you are waiting for the water to reach temperature and collect your used bath water to pour it onto the lawn or garden.

In winter turn down/off the reticulation, the morning dew on the garden and our winter rains should be enough

Washing machines and dishwashers. Try not to operate them with small loads. If buying new, look for the "Star" ratings: the more stars, the better.

Know where your water meter is and locate your inspection shaft cover