Grey water was being used by more than half (55 per cent) of all Australian households in 2007, according to figures released this week by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Grey water was the second most common source of water after mains/town water. Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory had the highest proportion of households using grey water, at 72 per cent and 63 per cent respectively.
Nearly a quarter of Australian households used grey water as their main water source for the garden, with Victoria and Queensland the highest users, at 43 per cent and 27 per cent respectively.
Other main findings were:
- The majority of Australian households are undertaking water saving activities; 67 per cent saved water in the bathroom, 64 per cent in the laundry, 50 per cent in the kitchen and 40 per cent in the toilet.
- More than half (55 per cent) of all households had at least one water efficient shower head.
- Almost three-quarters (74 per cent) of new homes (under one year old) had water efficient shower heads, compared to just under half (46 per cent) in homes older than 30 years.
- Most households (81 per cent) had at least one dual-flush toilet, compared with 39 per cent in 1994.
- Nearly one in five (19 per cent) households had a rainwater tank, up from 17 per cent in 2004 and 15 per cent in 1994.
