Egg-timer showers a distant memory for Queenslanders

QUEENSLANDERS got down to four minutes at the height of the millennium drought, but how have they been doing lately?

DROUGHT water restrictions are a distant memory, with time spent in the shower trending upwards since 2009.

In southeast Queensland the average shower time is almost back to what it was before the level five restriction of four minutes.

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“The average shower time before the drought was around seven minutes,” Queensland Urban Utilities spokeswoman Michelle Cull said.

“During water restrictions we got down to four minutes or less by using shower timers.

“Now we’ve crept back up to five-minute showers in summer and six minutes in winter.”

But some of our drought habits have stuck – water-saving shower heads, lowered pressure and water tanks are all helping to keep our general water consumption down.

Before the millennium drought the average person used 330 litres a day, but in November it was still below 200 litres.

At our best during the drought we limited water use to 190 litres per person.

Restrictions were in place from May 2005 to April 2009.

As time in the shower soars in winter, Queensland Urban Utilities offers tips to keep water bill under control.

“Timers are still a great idea if you want to reduce your shower times and another simple tip is to switch to a three-star rated showerhead. Cutting your shower time by only one minute per day can save a family of four around 11,000 litres of water a year.” Ms Cull said.

Adam Beard, 24, from the Gold Coast says his showers vary from 30 seconds to 15 minutes.

“Sometimes I like to just stand in there under the water and do my thinking, especially in winter. I never really worry about the water bills,” he said.

Originally published as Egg-timer showers a distant memory for Queenslanders