Water Saving Tips

water conservation

In times gone by, most of us didn't give a second thought to how much water we used in the home but with recent water shortages, plus substantial increases to the costs of water, it is a good time to think about how we can all cut back on our usage. This article will look at water saving tips all of us can implement around the home and garden.

If you can afford it, a rainwater tank can be a great investment. They come in all shapes and sizes depending on the size of your property. Some water authorities will give you a rebate for having a tank installed.

Inside the home:

Bathroom:

Install water saving shower heads, these use considerably less water than regular shower heads. Most water authorities will be able to provide you with information on these devices. Your local hardware shop should also have them in stock.
Don't leave the tap running when you are brushing your teeth.
Have shorter showers.
If you use a bath, recycle the bath water (known as grey water) in your garden. Avoid using grey water on fruit & vegetables you plan to eat.
Bathe young children together.
Fit a water saving device to the toilet cistern.
Use the half flush as often as possible.
Take a shower instead of a bath.

Kitchen & laundry:

Use a water jug, fill with cold water & place in the fridge. That way, you won't have to run the tap, wasting water every time you want a cool drink.
When washing dishes by hand, scrape off as much residue as you can, fill the sink & then wash dishes. Don't leave the tap running. Start with the cleanest first (ie; glasses).
Wait for a full load of laundry before starting the washing machine. Same with the dishwasher.
Only fill the kettle with the amount of water you want to use.
Don't use running water to defrost food, place it in the fridge overnight instead.
Rinse fruit & vegetables in a pan or container. Re-use water on houseplants.

Misc:

Quickly repair leaky taps. A leaky tap can waste up to 90 litres of water a week.
Replace taps with water efficient ones.
When cleaning out fish tanks, use the dirty water on the garden.
When replacing household appliances such as dishwashers & washing machines, look for water efficient ones. Most now come with a star rating for both efficiency & water consumption.

In the garden:

Don't use the hose to wash down hard surfaces. Sweep instead.
Use a bucket of soapy water to clean outdoor furniture instead of the hose.
Water your garden early morning or late afternoon to avoid evaporation.
Use mulch on garden beds to also assist in retaining water.
Buy drought tolerant plants to help cut back on watering.
Wash your car on the lawn.
Raise the blades on your mower, or mow slightly less often. Longer grass requires less watering.
Check the weather forecast before you water your garden to see if there is a chance of rain in the near future.