WaterWise

Partially fill the sink, instead of running the taps the whole time. Reuse this collected water on house plants or outdoor potted plants, and save yourself some money.

Keep a container/s near the sink to catch any water run through your taps while waiting for the right temperature water, and use this collected water on plants around the house.

Keep a jug of water in the fridge, so you can have cold water whenever you want it and don’t have to watch your money go down the drain while you run taps waiting for the water to cool. 

Buy or designate one special cup for each member of the household to drink water from each day. This will cut down on the water you use in the kitchen as it should reduce the number of times you wash and the quantities you have to wash, also saving you time. 

Older children/adults can take turns in the bath, where a little extra hot water is still less than a shower or a new bath for each person. 

Install 3 star WELS rated shower heads. By replacing the old ‘Universal’ shower heads in your bathroom with the more efficient water saving shower roses, you can save up to 50% of the water (and money) consumed in your shower, without an adverse affect on shower quality. 

Water-saving shower roses cost between $10 – $70 and are available from most plumbing supplies and hardware stores. Being such a low cost investment, they will pay for themselves in less than one year. Every year after that, you save money! 

Try to limit your time in the shower to what is necessary to soap up, scrub down and rinse off. This will not only save you money in water supply costs, but also in water heating costs! 

If you want a long soak, have a bath 

Install a dual flush 6/3 litre or 4/3.5 litre toilet suite. This is an easy way to save water (and money). Without changing your flush frequency, you can reduce the amount of water used in your toilet by up to 70%. 

If you can’t retrofit a new toilet system in your bathroom, try filling a couple of plastic one litre fruit or soft drink bottles with water (or sand), close the lid and then carefully place them in the cistern compartment, but be careful not to place them where they might interfere with the working parts of the cistern. 

Only flush as much as you need to, so dispose of wrappers and tissues in the bin. 

Check for leaks! This is a very common problem and can waste thousands of litres of water every year. It also wastes your dollars! 

To check for leaks, put some food colouring in the cistern and, without flushing, watch to see if the colour appears in the bowl after about 15 minutes. If it does, you need to have the cistern repaired ASAP, to save yourself water and money. 

Maybe you could think about updating to a 4.5/3 litre dual flush system instead of repairing your old leaking system? 

• Always ensure that you have a full load of washing before turning on your machine.
• If you have to do a small load, always double check that you have set your machine to the water level appropriate for that load. 

• Front loading washing machines only use 64-80 litres of water per wash. 
• Using less water, they also use about 50% less detergent (more money saved for you, and better for our environment) and less energy (many come with 5 star energy ratings, which means even more savings for you!). 

Plant drought-resistant native trees and shrubs. These species are both attractive and effective in helping to cut your water costs. 

Put mulch over the top of your garden beds. 

Mulches can prevent up to 73% moisture loss through evaporation! 

A 50mm mulch layer can save hundreds of litres of water per year. 

Mulches also prevent excessive runoff, restrict weed growth, and help put valuable nutrients back into your soil. 

Install water-efficient drip irrigation for your trees, shrubs and flowers. This type of watering gets the moisture to the roots of the plant where it is needed and used. 

Wait until the soil dries out before watering to toughen up your plants and make them hardier in dry conditions. 

Move your pot plants outside when it rains for a good, free soak. 

Water during the early morning (5-8am) or late afternoon (5-8pm) when temperatures are cooler and evaporation is reduced. Check the current water restrictions for watering times. 

Don’t water on windy days. Water can be blown onto footpaths and driveways, which wastes your time, water and money. 

There is no need to water lawns, and some gardens, for at least a week after rain. 

Fertilisers increase water consumption. Apply the absolute minimum amount of fertiliser needed, to keep watering down. 

Remember to keep your lawn and garden weeded. Weeds compete with your plants for water, as well as nutrients and light. 

Collect and use rainwater for watering your lawns and gardens. This water is “free”, and by using it just as wisely as the water you pay for – the savings in your pocket will really start to add up! 

If you have an automated sprinkler system, teach your whole family how to shut off your watering system so anyone who is home can turn off the sprinklers when rain is coming. 

Check your sprinkler system frequently and ensure that only your lawn is being watered, and not the house, footpath or street. 

If you have an evaporative air conditioner, direct the water to drain onto a garden, tree or your lawn. In summer, this could save you a lot of watering time (and money). 

Reduce your area of lawn. Avoid having turfed areas which are hard to water and mow. Fill these areas with porous materials, such as colourful gravel, or with water conservative shrubs and ground covers. 

Aerate your lawn. Punch holes in your lawn about six inches apart, so water can reach the roots, instead of running off the surface. 

Test to see when you need to water: 

Use an old screwdriver as a probe to test soil moisture. If it goes in easily, you don’t need to water. 

Simply walk across your lawn. If you leave footprints or the lawn stays flat – then it’s time to water. 

Allow for seasonality in your watering schedule. Winter lawns require less watering than summer lawns. 

If your grass is brown, this doesn’t mean it’s dead, it’s just dormant. 

Dormant grass only needs to be watered every three weeks. When the rain begins, your grass will quickly turn green again, and you will have saved money by watering your dormant grass correctly. 

Give your lawn more water, but less often. 

Use a timer on your sprinkler. A forgotten sprinkler wastes more than 1000 litres per hour, all of which you pay for. If you don’t have a hose timer, set a kitchen timer. 

Water small areas of grass by hand, to avoid waste. 

Wash your cars and pets on the lawn. This waters the lawn at the same time. 

Mow your grass as infrequently as possible. Mowing puts your lawn under additional stress, causing it to require more watering. 

Adjust your lawnmower to a higher setting. 

Longer grass will reduce the amount of water lost to evaporation. 

The trigger nozzle also comes in handy when moving the hose around the garden to hand water, but remember to turn the hose off at the tap when finished! 

Choosing the right plants can save water and time caring for them. There are a range of native and exotic plants available that thrive in dry conditions. 

Plants can be grouped together according to their water needs. 

It is recommended you speak with your local nursery for advice on WaterWise plants which thrive in your area. 

Don’t forget to give shrubs a spring pruning as this reduces the leaf area and the plants water usage requirements.