How long does 12,000 litres of tank water last?

It's the question we get asked most. The honest answer is: it depends on how many people are home and how you use water. Here's a rough guide to help you plan your top-ups.

A rough guide

Our water usage calculator uses about 227 litres a day for each adult and 180 litres for each child. On those numbers, a 12,000 litre load lasts roughly:

• 1 adult: about 7 weeks
• 2 adults: nearly 4 weeks
• 2 adults and 2 children: about 2 weeks
• A full bach of 6 adults over the holidays: about 9 days

These are only estimates. A little water always stays in the truck and hoses, and your own use may be higher or lower. Try our water usage calculator with your own numbers.

What uses the most water

• Showers: a long shower can use well over 100 litres.
• Washing machines: older top loaders use much more than front loaders.
• Gardens and lawns: a sprinkler running for an hour can use more than a family uses inside in a day.
• Leaks: a dripping tap, a running toilet or a broken pipe can quietly empty a tank. If your level drops faster than usual, check for leaks first.

Make your water go further

• Keep showers short and fix dripping taps and running toilets.
• Run the washing machine and dishwasher only when they're full.
• Water the garden early in the morning or in the evening.
• Check your gutters and the filter on your tank inlet so you catch every bit of rain.

Plan your top-up before you need it

Book a load when your tank is around a third full, not when it's nearly empty. That gives you a few days' buffer if the next free day is a little way off, especially in summer and over the holidays when we're busiest.

Want to keep an eye on your level without climbing a ladder? Matakana TankWatch puts a HiLo 4G monitor on your tank so you can see your level on your phone, and we can book your top-up when you reach your level.

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More: Run out of tank water? Here's what to do · Rain calculator · FAQs