Worried about your water bill? Heard about Australia’s freshwater crisis? There’s plenty of good reasons to reduce your water consumption, and with temperatures heating up and reservoir levels getting lower than ever, being waterwise is important both from an environmental and financial perspective. Fortunately, there’s some easy and cost-effective steps you can take to significantly lower your water consumption at home and in the garden, to lower your bill and your water footprint.
Did you know that almost 40% of the average Aussie household’s water is used outdoors? Choosing native plants with low water needs is a great way to reduce your water consumption. Depending on where you live, the climate and soil type, certain plants will thrive more than others – local Council websites will often provide detailed advice, and you can ask your local nursery as well. Hardy shrubs and drought-tolerant plants are a safe choice, and plants with small leaves, light-coloured leaves, hairy or tough leaf surfaces and/or deep root systems tend to thrive with relatively low water needs.
Mulching is a critical step for a waterwise garden, as it will reduce evaporation and run-off while also protecting plants from high temperatures; wetting agents will also help your soil to absorb water.
Install a water tank
Collecting rainwater with a water tank can offer significant savings on your water bill! Depending on the size of your roof, the size of your tank and the annual rainfall in your area, you can replace most if not all your mains water usage; check out this water tank calculator to work out an estimate of how much your tank is likely to harvest.
Depending on how your water tank is set up and what accessories you use, your tank water can have myriad uses: from washing your car and keeping your garden green year-round regardless of water restrictions, to being used for bathing, drinking and cooking.
And no, water tanks aren’t all huge and round! Slimline water tanks are a great space-saving alternative for city-dwellers and are known for having a more subtle aesthetic to fit in with the look of your home.
Low-flow showerheads
Fun fact: older-style showerheads use up a whopping 19 litres per minute! That means if you’re showering for the recommended 5 minutes, you’ll use up 95 litres. You can reduce that by as much as 50% by switching to a low-flow showerhead; over the course of a year and for a family, that’s some serious water savings.
According to Choice Magazine, some water experts say that “by reducing water use by 50 litres per person every day, we could delay or completely avoid the need for new water provision infrastructure (for example, new dams or desalination plants), and even lift restrictions.” Switching to a low-flow showerhead can get you most of the way there – easy!
Greywater is the waste water from when you take a shower, bath or spa, use a handbasin, laundry tub or washing machine. It’s generally not safe for drinking, but with only a small fraction of your water actually being used for drinking water, grey water can really put a dent on your water consumption. Check out Choice Magazine’s guide to greywater systems for more info.
With a bit of forethought, it’s easy to make the most of rainwater and greywater to minimise your water consumption, and to plan a waterwise garden that looks great. You’ll feel great knowing you’ve made a difference to Australia’s water future, too!
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