Water conservation in New South Wales is a challenge for homeowners –, especially during a drought. We use water in so many daily activities and chores that it’s often easy to forget that, as a resource, it is not always readily available. Fortunately, there are a number of simple ways on how to save water at home; many of which won’t cost you a dollar.
Whether you are in the house or outside, by these simple water saving tips can help you will save gallons of water every day:
Inside Water Conservation
Washing Machines
How many times a week do you run your washing machine or dishwasher when only half full? These appliances use a considerable amount of water. Washing machines on the higher end of performance may use up to 30 gallons of water and a dishwasher with similar specs will use around 4 gallons of water. To help save water, consider running your appliances with full loads for lower water consumption.
Washing Dishes
If you are hand washing dishes, prefill basins rather than letting the water to run. You use at least 1 gallon of water if the faucet is continuously running unless you have an aerator installed. Use 1 basin for washing and another for rinsing. This will greatly reduce waste. If you have a garbage disposal, perhaps cut down on usage or switch to a natural alternative such as a compost heap.
Taking Showers
The shower is another area to help save water. You can install a low-flow showerhead to help reduce your shower time and lower your average water consumption while in the bathroom. Also, don’t let your bathroom faucets run when carrying out grooming tasks or brushing your teeth.
Outdoors Water Conservation
Similar to indoors, there are a number of effective ways to help save water outdoors, read on!
Watering The Garden
Evaporation and wind are the enemies of watering the garden. Reserve these tasks to the morning and even when the sun sets. Don’t allow your sprinklers to water anything other than your lawn and plants. You can also deep water your lawn, which will allow you to reduce the number of times that you water your lawn down to as few as one a week – this can do wonders for water conservation. If you want to help your plants and trees fully benefit from watering, place mulch around the base to reduce evaporation.
It’s nice to have exotic plants as part of your landscape but they often need more water. Stick to planting species which are suited to the climate and will hold up well in a drought. Using a hose to wash down your deck, driveways and other walkways is a serious waste of water. A broom will take a little more elbow grease but you will significantly reduce water waste while achieving the same results.
Washing The Car
You do not need a hose to clean your vehicles, either. Using a bucket and sponge will conserve much more water. This is another task that is better performed when the sun is not at its strongest. You want the vehicle to stay wet long enough to rinse off the suds and avoid streaking.
Plumbing Health Check
It is also important to have reliable plumbing that will help ensure that water is not being wasted. You can check if you have leaks by carrying out a simple evaluation of your water meter. Turn off any systems that use water and check your water meter. Avoid using water for the next 2 hours before checking the meter once more. If it has moved, there is a good chance that there are leaks somewhere in the plumbing system. Contact a plumber to investigate any issues.
For more information read our other article on water-saving tips. In the meantime, if you are thinking of building or renovating in New South Wales, contact Houspect on 1300 258 789 for excellence in building inspections.
