There was a time when people didn't give much thought to how much water they used at home and work, because it seemed that the supply was endless and it cost almost nothing.

But those days have gone.

Long term changes in the weather patterns, combined with a series of devastating droughts in various parts of Australia, have meant that water restrictions have become a fact of life for most people.

Many manufacturing businesses now use rain water, bore water or recycled water to supplement their supply.

They have also installed more efficient appliances and equipment where possible.

However, there are various things that anyone can do on a day-to-day basis to reduce their consumption of this scarce natural resource.

Firstly, of course, you need to comply with any local government water restrictions.

This may include not hosing hard surfaces, and not using sprinklers.

Secondly, use mulch on garden areas, to reduce the amount of outdoor watering you need to do.

And thirdly, fix leaking taps or fittings, so you don't lose any water unnecessarily.

Just to give you an idea of the savings these simple measures can make, here are some facts and figures on common water usages and wastages.

- A dripping tap loses between 30 and 200 litres a day.

- A leaking fitting, or a pipe with a 1.5 mm hole in it can lose 100 litres of water a day.

- A leaking toilet cistern can lose from 35 litres a day, for water that is just visible in the pan, up to 260 litres, for water that makes a constant hissing sound.