10 top ideas for water conservation

In the house:

Where to start:

Click here to calculate your current water use.

Draw up a plan:

Take a look at the Water Wise report generated from the calculator to see where you use the most of your water and start there. If it’s in the shower, reduce your showering time. Plan on how much you want to save. The Water Wise website has a lot of great information on saving water and reducing your consumption.

Read your water meter

Learn how to read your water meter to see how much water you consume daily, weekly and monthly. Water meters are usually just outside your property. For complexes, ask the Body Corporate. More importantly, a water meter is a great way of detecting if there is a leak in your home or garden. Remember to fix leaking taps to prevent water wastage.

Make small stickers or posters

Remember that some habits are hard to change. Make beautiful posters that you can put around your house as a reminder to save water. This is a fun activity you can do with children.

In the garden:

It’s all about the timing

When it comes to watering a garden, timing is very important: the earlier the better. Try to water the garden in the morning before 9:00 or in the afternoon after 17:00. Only water when plants show signs of needing water.

Make use of greywater

Reusing greywater in the garden is another great way of saving water. Make sure that the greywater is suitable for the types of plants you have in the garden. Click here for more information.

Install a rain gauge

This is a simple way of measuring how much you need to water the garden during rainy seasons. There is no need to water if you have received enough rainfall.

Harvest rainwater

This can be as simple as putting a bucket outside when it rains, or installing a rain tank and directing water from the gutters into the tank. This method can reduce your water bill.

Mulch and mulch and mulch!

Mulching your garden saves water, protects plant roots and prevents weeds. Mulch helps with retaining soil moisture, making it easy to maintain your garden and reducing the amount of water your garden needs.

Remember, grouping plants according to their watering needs will also help reduce water usage.