Residential Rates Notices include graphs and water consumption information. Under the Queensland Government’s regulatory “Guidelines for issuing a Rates Notice or account for the supply of water to residential premises”, rates notices' must include:
- graphical and numerical information on water consumption for the current period compared to the previous billing period
- comparisons of average daily water consumption from current billing period to previous year
- the local area residential average for the current period, and
- litres (L) as a unit of measure on a daily comparative basis (i.e. L/day)
We all have a range of water appliances in our homes. Have you ever wondered how much water they might use?
The following table shows estimates of typical water consumption, which will help you understand how much water you use for different purposes.
| SHOWER |
Normal Shower Rose
Water Saver Rose |
17 litres per minute
8 litres per minute |
| TOILET |
Single Flush
Dual Half Flush
Dual Full Flush |
12 litres
3 litres
6 litres |
| BATH |
Half full
Full |
80 litres average
140 litres average |
| BATHROOM |
Brushing teeth/shaving with tap running
Brushing teeth/shaving with tap off
Hand basin |
5 litres per minute
1 litre per minute
5 litres |
| KITCHEN |
Washing dishes by hand (one meal)
Old dishwasher
Modern dishwasher
Garbage disposal |
18 litres
60 litres
18 litres
10 litres |
| LAUNDRY |
Modern front loader
Top loader
Twin tub |
60 litres
150 litres
70 litres |
| GARDEN |
Sprinkler
Washing car with a hose
Hosing driveway
Average size swimming pool |
1000 litres per hour
200 litres per 12 minutes
75 litres per 5 minutes
20,000 to 40,000 litres |
| LEAKS |
Dripping tap
Leaking pipe
Leaking toilet |
30 to 150 litres per day
300 litres per day from a 1.5mm (1/16 inch) hole
10 to 260 litres per day |
Read our Water Saving Information to help conserve water and reduce your household water consumption.
Use the Indoor Water Audit to find out your daily water consumption and check if your home has any possible water leaks.