Water is our most precious resource.

All residents, businesses, local councils and government agencies need to follow the Water Wise Rules set by Sydney Water.

Tips on Saving Water

Rainwater Tanks

The use of rainwater tanks enables residents to save valuable drinking water, save money and help manage stormwater run-off.

Rainwater collected from roofs can be used in the garden, laundry or toilet, reducing the need to use drinking water and helping prevent the waste of rainwater that would otherwise go directly into the stormwater system.

Under the NSW Government’s Climate Change Fund Residential Rebate Program, residents are provided with a rainwater tank rebate of up to $1500 for rainwater tanks connected to toilets and washing machines.

For more information see Sydney Water’s Rainwater Tank Rebate page. If you are not a Sydney Water customer, visit the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water website or call 1300 361 967 to apply for the rebate.

Council has prepared information kits to provide guidance to City of Ryde residents in navigating their way through the complicated approval, installation and rebate recovery process. See the Sustainability Product Info and Rebates page.

Greywater

Greywater is household waste water that has not come into contact with toilet waste. It comes from the kitchen sink, dishwasher, bath, shower, washing machine and laundry trough. Using greywater instead of drinking water for outdoor purposes could save each household up to 50,000 litres of drinking water each year.

For further information visit Sydney Water’s Greywater page.

Being generally water wise

• Checking for leaks in taps, pipes and dishwasher hoses is an easy way to reduce water wastage. Remember, one leaking tap can waste more than 2,000 litres a month.
• The most water efficient methods for cooking vegetables are microwaving, steaming or using a pressure cooker. You can also cut down on water loss by using tight lids on pots and simmering instead of boiling rapidly.
• Installing water efficient taps or tap aerators is a great, inexpensive way to cut your water usage without you even noticing.
• Thaw frozen foods before you need them or use the microwave instead of placing them under running water.
• Prevent taps from leaking by turning taps off lightly and replace washers as soon as they begin to leak.
• Automatic dishwashers can use up to 40 litres of water per load. By using a dishwasher with at least a 3 star/AAA rating1, you can get this figure down to 18 litres per load and still get the kind of sparkling clean dishes you're used to.
• It's best to wait until you have a full load in your dishwasher before using it. This saves water and energy, and reduces the amount of detergent entering the wastewater system.
• Keep a container of water in the fridge so that you won't need to run the water down the sink until it's cool enough to drink.
• Washing fruit and vegies in a half-filled sink instead of under running water is a great way to cut back on water wastage.
• Rinsing your dishes in a plugged sink rather than under a running tap saves water and is just as easy and effective.
• Use a sink strainer.
• Try to use phosphate-free, eco-friendly detergents and cleaning products - there's a great range to choose from these days and they're much better for our environment.
• Remember to regularly clean the lint filter on your washing machine.
• Most washing machines have a load adjustment button or dial, so try to set this to match the amount of washing you're doing. If your machine doesn't have a load adjustment function, try to wait until you have enough washing for a full load.
• Installing one of the latest 3 star/AAA rating showerheads 1 can give you a great shower and save you around 10 litres of water a minute. They also save you energy costs, as you'll use less hot water.
• To rinse your razor, run a little water into a plugged sink. Rinsing your razor under a running tap wastes lots of water.
• There's no need to leave the tap running while you brush your teeth. Simply wet your toothbrush before you begin and use a glass of water to rinse your mouth.

For more tips on saving water, visit the Sydney Water’s Water Efficiency page.

Water Savings Action Plan

Council has developed a Water Savings Action Plan to reduce water usage across the organisation.

• Action Plan (PDF 1.4 MB)
• Appendix A: Additional Information Ryde Aquatic Leisure Centre (PDF 1.7 MB)
• Appendix B: Additional Information ELS Hall Park (PDF 4.6 MB)
• Appendix C: Additional Information Meadowbank Park (PDF 4.4 MB)
• Appendix D: Additional Information Christie Park (PDF 4.6 MB)
• Appendix E: Additional Information Monash Park (PDF 4.5 MB)
• Appendix F: Additional Information Civic Centre (PDF 4.1 MB)
• Appendix G: Additional Information Eastwood Park (PDF 4.4 MB)
• Appendix H: Additional Information Morrison Bay Park (PDF 4.6 MB)
• Appendix I: Additional Information Argyle Centre and Hall (PDF 4.1 MB)
• Appendix J: Additional Information Putney Park (PDF 4.4 MB)
• Appendix K: Additional Information Operations Centre (PDF 8.0 MB)