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Water Saving - What Can We Do?
Conserving Water can be carried out in various parts of the Home, as well as in outdoor areas, including some of the following: In the Bathroom: Save money on your water and energy bill by installing a AAA rated shower rose. Compared to a standard shower that delivers up to 25 litres per minute. A AAA shower rose uses less than 9 litres per minute of water. Take shorter showers Toilets are big water users. Use the full flush only when needed. Turning the tap off while brushing your teeth, or shaving can save 5 litres of water. Installing tap aerators and flow regulators on taps that are regularly used for washing hands or brushing teeth is an inexpensive way to use less water. Check toilets for hidden leaks by placing a few drops of food colouring in the tank. Wait 15 minutes. If the colour appears in the bowl, you have a leak, which needs to be repaired.
In the Kitchen: When peeling or cleaning vegetables, rinse them in a plugged sink. Operating a fully loaded dishwasher is more water efficient. AAA rated dishwashers, when operated fully loaded, use no more water than handwashing and half the amount of water of older models.
In the Laundry: Outdoors: Regularly check taps and pipes for leaks Use a broom to clean paths rather than a hose. Ten minutes spent hosing driveways and paths uses around 200 litres of water. When washing the car, it's better to use a bucket and sponge. A trigger operated nozzle hose can be used for a quick final rinse. Maintaining lawn areas around 5cm high will reduce evaporation as the blades of grass shade each other. To be water efficient lawn areas should be kept to a minimum. Drought proof your plants by watering for longer less often. Waterwise gardeners water in the cooler parts of the day, preferably in the mornings when evaporation is less due to lower wind speeds Aerated soil lets water reach plant roots where it is needed instead of pooling on the surface. A layer of mulch on garden beds will prevent water evaporation by up to 75%. Installing a tap timer and drip irrigation system for watering the garden is more water efficient than using a hose or sprinkler. Select plants suited to the local environment. Your local nursery should be able to provide advice in this area. Pool covers reduce evaporation and the frequency with which a pool need to be topped up Check you pool regularly for leaks
On the Farm: Using the right amount at the right time is the key to being profitable while protecting our waterways. Prepare and use an irrigation and drainage management plan Improve the design, installation and maintenance of the water distribution system Site and manage water storages to minimise water losses
Protection of the Health of Our WaterwaysThere are things we can do every day to keep our Waterways Healthy. In the Home: Your toilet is not a garbage bin. It is not the place to dispose of tissues, cotton buds, tampons, sanitary napkins or disposable nappies Only water should go down your kitchen sink drain. It is better to pour used cooking oils and fats into an empty container and disposed of in the garbage bin Using household cleaning products low in phosphorus can help reduce blue green algae in our rivers. When purchasing detergents, look for products marked with NP or P as they contain no or low levels of phosphorus Use less fertilisers and pesticides on lawns and gardens. Over fertilising does not benefit plants. Excess fertiliser can seep into groundwater or wash into local waterways via drains. Nutrients from fertilisers are a major cause of blue green algae, while high levels of pesticides in our waterways can kill fish and other marine life Washing the car on the lawn can prevent detergents from entering our waterways Never pour unused paints or solvents down the drain. Contact your local council about disposal arrangements for hazardous wastes Take used motor oil to a service station that advertises collection for recycling. A single litre of oil down the drain can pollute 9500 litres of water.
On the Farm: Monitor irrigation and drainage water quality Minimise deep drainage run off Recycle water by developing tail water drain reticulation systems Know the correct application rates of fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides Keep livestock out of river beds and off river banks and maintain riverine buffer zones Correct disposal of chemical containers ensures that contamination of waterways does not occur.
National Water Week is held in October each year. Further information can be obtained from Water Watch Website www.waterwatch.nsw.gov.au or For Water Wise Issues on the farm - NSW Agriculture's website www.agric.nsw.gov.au/waterwise Please Contact: Department of Land & Water Conservation www.dlwc.nsw.gov.au/waterweek
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