Go easy on water!

Spring and summer rains can hopefully be expected soon. But one cannot live on hope alone. You have to pull a few fingers out yourself to save water. 

Good spring cleaning

Don’t hose down paths, patios and driveways – use a broom, rake, outdoor blower or vacuum instead. If moss and weeds have invaded your paved areas over winter, apply a moss killer and ready-to-use herbicides to clean them rather than using water and a pressure sprayer. 

Ask the experts 

• If your water account has suddenly gone up, call in a plumber to check for leaks that you might not be able to detect and have it fixed. 
• Install drip irrigation (for 90% efficiency!) There is no water pressure needed, and the slow rate delivers the water exactly where it needs to go – the roots of plants! 

Dive in with a good conscience

Use a cover over your pool to reduce evaporation and the need to top up water regularly. More than half the water in your pool can evaporate in a year. 

Harvest rainwater 

Install a rainwater tank. Why? Do this basic sum to see how you can save: 

For every 1 m2 of roof and 1 mm of rainfall, there is the potential to harvest 1 litre of water. For example, with the annual Gauteng rainfall of 750 mm per year, a roof of 400 m2 would give you a potential 300 000 litres of water per year. 

Rethink the little things 

• While you wait for the water to get hot, catch the cold water and use it to water your houseplants. 
• Dig basins around trees and shrubs to collect rainwater and direct it to the plants rather than losing it to runoff.