Australian man has not had a water bill in 11 years

Most of us don’t smile when we see a water bill, but Phillip Johnson is different.

Phillip Johnson has not had a water bill in 11 years. Photo: Mike Keating

He has not had a water bill, as such, for 11 years  – he only receives a bill of $11.20 every three months for drain fees.

Johnson’s property includes water tanks that will hold 60,000 litres of rainwater, and billabongs that capture up to 200,000 litres of stormwater.

As a landscape designer, he advises households how to use water smarter and reduce their bills  – and his No.1 tip is capturing the rain.

“Install a rainwater tank, even if it’s only a few thousand litres, and it’s very important you use that water around the home,” Johnson says. “Don’t just let it sit there.”

National water conservation group, the savewater! Alliance, rates rainwater tanks in its top five ways to save money on water.

National programs manager Michael Smit says a rainwater tank connected to the toilet and washing machine and used for outdoor watering can save households up to $250 a year.

“Across Australia, between 2004 and 2010, rainwater tank ownership increased from 17 per cent (of households) to 26 per cent,” he says. Front-loading washing machines and water-saving shower heads are also going to reap significant savings for homeowners.

Smit calculates a front-loading washing machine will save about 21,000 litres of water a year, or $55, and water-saving shower heads save up to $60 a year in water and energy costs.

“The shower heads are a relatively cheap investment and payback is in just six months,” he says.

Smit says people with a swimming pool can lose up to 1000 litres of water a day in evaporation, so a pool cover can be a smart investment.

And with the cost of bottled water more than 1000 times that of tap water, Smit says it makes sense to carry a refillable water bottle.

“You could save about $900 a year with a refillable water bottle,” he says.

National consumer group Choice says there are other ways people can save on their water bills – including shorter showers, checking water-rating labels on appliances and installing dual-flush toilets.

It also suggests only running the dishwasher and washing machine with full loads, fixing leaking taps and planting “water-wise” natives.

** HOW TO SAVE WATER AND MONEY **

Front-loading washing machine ANNUAL SAVING 21,000 litres $55 plus energy costs

Refillable water bottle saving up to  $900

Pool cover SAVING 20,000 litres $50

Rainwater tank SAVING UP TO 100,000 litres $250

Water-saving showerhead AVING 12,000-28,000 litres $30-60 plus energy costs

Source: savewater! Alliance (calculations based on water cost of$2.50/1000L)

Source: news.com.au (By Nhada Larkin)

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