Be Water Wise

We should all be aware that water is increasingly becoming more and more scarce. It is the most important of all Earths rescources and the way in which we all use water can have massive impacts on its future availability and cost. Here are just a few tips on how to easily conserve water in our own homes that we should all be putting into practice.

• Plant water-wise indigenous plants.
• Water gardens only in early morning or the evening and only when necessary.
• Collect rainwater to use on the garden or for washing the car. Use a broom instead of a hosepipe when cleaning driveways or patios.
• Cover your swimming pool to reduce water evaporation.
• Don't over water your lawn. As a general rule, lawns only need watering every 2 to 3 days in the summer and ever 3 to 5 days in the winter.
• Don't water your street, driveway or sidewalk. Position your sprinklers so that your water lands on the lawn and shrubs....not the paved areas.
• Regularly check your sprinkler system and timing devices to be sure they are operating properly.
• Raise the lawn mower blade to at least 2 inches. A lawn cut higher encourages grass roots to grow deeper, shades the root system and holds soil moisture better than a closely-clipped lawn.
• Mulch to retain moisture in the soil. Mulching also helps to control weeds that compete with plants for water.
• Use hose washers between taps and hosepipes to eliminate leaks.
• Do not leave sprinklers or hoses unattended. Your garden hoses can pour out 600 litres or more in only a few hours, so don't leave the sprinkler running all day. Use a kitchen timer to remind yourself to turn it off.
• Consider using a commercial car wash that recycles water. if you wash your own car, park on the grass to do so.

For more tips on water conservation visit: http://www.thewaterproject.org/