Slow The Flow

Sun Herald

Sunday September 24, 2006

with Scott McGregor

With a few simple strategies, you'll be amazed at how much water you can save.

If YOU get out of the city and into the drought-stricken countryside as regularly as I do, you become acutely aware of just what a precious resource our water is. Coming into the warmer months the demand for water will only increase. At home I'm trying to do the right thing. I've installed a water tank, keep the garden beds well mulched and only ever wash the car from a bucket. I've seen the good results reflected in my water bills but we can do more, so I am always trying to think of ways our family can continue to reduce its water consumption.

Checking for leaks

A leak in your plumbing system not only wastes many litres of water, but could also damage your property. A visual inspection of taps, toilets and exposed pipes is good practice but the way to be sure is to check your meter. Before you go out for the day check that water-using devices and taps are turned off properly and then make a note of your meter reading on the way out. When you return home the reading should be the same. If not, there's probably a leak that will need to be tracked down and repaired.

Read the label

Installing water-efficient taps or tap aerators is a great way to cut your water usage without noticing the difference. As of July 1 this year, the Government has implemented the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) scheme. This rating system requires all manufacturers to display a water-rating label on their products, much the same as the energy-rating stickers on fridges, washing machines and dryers.

Major manufacturers of taps, toilets and shower fittings now use the WELS system standards for their ranges of designer fittings as well as budget units. You'll need a plumber to connect most of these, but by installing a new set of fittings you'll not only start saving water but give your bathroom a fresh new look.

Some items, such as tap aerators and AAA-rated showerheads, you can install yourself. AAA-rated showerheads can cut water usage from 24 to nine litres per minute - that's a saving of 105 litres for your average seven-minute shower.

Using grey water

Grey water is waste water from non-toilet plumbing fixtures around your home such as showers, basins, taps and laundries.

Sydney Water estimates about 61 per cent of the total waste water produced by an average household can be used as grey water. It can be reused in a number of ways around the home depending on how much you are prepared to invest in a grey-water system. Sophisticated systems will need professional installation but will enable grey water to be used indoors for flushing toilets or even washing clothes.

At the other end of the scale, a few dollars spent on a simple device can divert grey water from the drainage system onto lawns and garden beds (but it is not recommended to use grey water on the vegie patch).

Simple solutions

If installing a new toilet is out of the question, consider fitting a flush minimisation device such as Waterwizz or Flexiflush instead. These reduce the amount of water being expelled by the cistern by only allowing water to release while you hold down the button.

Even if you don't have a tank, downpipe water diverters are a great way to use rainwater coming from your roof. These simple devices are easily fitted to your downpipes. The next time it rains you can divert the water running off your roof to the garden or to top up your swimming pool.

Drip irrigation systems use less water than hoses and sprinklers by delivering controlled amounts of water directly to where the plants need it most. A common problem with watering systems, however, including water-efficient drip irrigation, is that they switch on even when it rains. A rain sensor will turn your electronic controller off when it rains, as will a soil-moisture sensor.

The usual suspects

Finally, a reminder of some of the most common tips for simple but effective water saving:

* Don't let taps run while you are cleaning your teeth or washing your face or hands.

* Minimise the length of showers - five minutes should be enough.

* Don't shave in the shower - do it using a small amount of water before showering.

* Never run your dishwasher or washing machine without a full load.

* Minimise flushes of the toilet.

* Put tissues in the bin, not the toilet.

* Replace old garden hoses and add trigger-release nozzles.

* Never use your hose to clean paths and driveways - a broom will do.

For more information on the WELS scheme see www.waterrating.gov.au. For water-saving tips see www.savewater.com.au or www.sydneywater.com.au You can also download a water-usage check list from www.actewagl.com.au.

© 2006 Sun Herald

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