Water saving tips

So how do you cut down on your water bill (or water consumption) while still doing everything you need to do around the home?

You have probably heard about taking quicker showers, turning the tap off while brushing your teeth and washing the car with a bucket and not a hose.  Perhaps you do those things and think that's everything, right?

Well there are some more things that save little bits of water at a time, but it does all add up.

Collect the cold water from the tap.  No, not in your water tank.  You are not allowed to fill the rainwater tank with town water.  When you are running the hot tap, say to fill the kitchen sink, or before getting into the shower, there is generally a few litres of cold water in the pipes which needs to be pushed out before the hot water comes through.  A jug next to the sink or a bucket in the shower can be used to collect those few litres of water.  Then use that water that would have just run down the drain to fill the kettle, or in cooking, or to water plants.

Think about how you wash your veg.  It is generally a good idea to wash your veg before eating it.  Sometimes my children need some convincing, especially if they are picking veg (or fruit) straight from the garden.  It doesn't take much convincing with carrots though...  and the water that I am using to wash my veg, either inside or outside, can have two uses.  To make my food clean and ready to eat and to water my garden.  A quick wash under the hose is also a little drink for a thirsty plant.  Washing veg inside happens in a bowl so I can toss the dirty water onto the pot plants by the back door.  The plants don't mind at all that the water has a bit of soil in it.

My washing machine water waters my plants.  I make sure the washing detergent that I use is grey water and septic safe and ok to go on the garden.  If garments have been soiled with nasties then that water does down the drain.  But it has been years since my littlies were in nappies, so that is rarely a problem these days.  But remember that if you are using grey water in your garden, it should not be used on edible plants and is best kept away from where your children play.

Get the right tank and use it.  Work out the catchment area on your roof (1 meter x 1 millilitre of rain = 1 litre of rain available to go in your tank) look at the average rainfall readings for your area (try your local bureau of meteorology website) and look at how much you need to water your garden (a litre meter attachment to your hose can show you how much you use per watering).  Now you can work out the size water tank that you ideally need to install to have all of your garden watering needs covered by rain. It is not cost effective getting a tank that is so big that it is unlikely to get to capacity or, if it does get to capacity, you won't use all of the water because of all of the rain.  It's also not too helpful getting a tank that is so small that it only really waters the garden once or twice before it is dry and then you need to connect back to the mains supply.  Consider your needs then look at your budget and work something out from there.