Drought conditions are common here in the Hunter Valley and across Australia, and the current drought has been going on for years. Homeowners all over the country have been taking steps to cut back their water usage during this trying time. Water utility companies, including Hunter Water, have imposed restrictions to help keep customers on track. The goal is to ensure that we still have fresh, clean water over the next 20 years. Here's how you can contribute to this effort in your own home.
  1. Take Shorter Showers - The shower is the place in the home where people use the most water as many people take showers that are far longer than necessary. Aim to trim down your shower time as much as possible. Experts recommend a shower time of four minutes or less, but even shaving off just a few minutes from each shower can save thousands of litres of water over the course of a year.
  2. Save Cold Shower Water - When you first turn on your shower and are waiting for the water to warm up, don't let all that cold water go down the drain. Instead, collect it in a bucket so you can use it to water plants in your garden, give to your dog or cat, or wash your car.
  3. Shave Outside the Shower - Shaving your face or legs takes up a fair bit of time in the shower, which leads to plenty of water going down the drain. Shave after your shower instead. Your skin and hair will still be softened but you won't be wasting water as you shave. Fill up the sink to rinse your blade rather than running water.
  4. Turn Off the Water While Brushing - Even during the two minutes or so you spend brushing your teeth, a lot of water can go down your drain. Instead, turn off the water after getting your toothbrush wet. You can then turn it back on when you are ready to rinse.
  5. Always Fill Your Dishwasher - Try to avoid running your dishwasher half-full. It is much more water-efficient to fill it up all the way as you'll use the same amount of water, regardless of how many dishes are in there. The more dishes in the washer, the less water used per dish.
  6. Fill Your Sinks When Hand-Washing - If your kitchen is equipped with dual sinks, fill one with soapy water for cleaning and the other with clean water for rinsing. You don't want to be running water constantly as you clean. You can still use this technique even if you only have one sink. Start with a sink full of soapy water to wash then drain it and refill with clean water when it's time to rinse.
  7. Follow Hunter Water's Recommended Watering Hours - Hunter Water requires its customers to only run their sprinkler or irrigation systems outside of the hottest part of the day. This means that you'll need to water your plants before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. The goal of this requirement is to minimise evaporation so that the water actually gets to your plants. Adding some mulch on top of your soil can help in this regard as well.
  8. Say Goodbye to Grass - Lawns are difficult and time-consuming to maintain, especially in the hot summer months. Instead, switch to a synthetic lawn or use native plants in your garden. These hardy plants are much better suited to dry conditions and won't need as much water to thrive.
  9. Sweep Your Footpaths - You should never use a hose to clean your footpaths, driveway and other solid surfaces. This is a requirement for Hunter Water customers but it is also just a good practice to get into. Use a broom instead.
  10. Use a Bucket to Wash Your Car - Remember that bucket of cold shower water? Here's where it comes in handy. Hunter Water doesn't allow the use of hoses in car washing so you'll need to use a bucket of water. Add some soap, and you're ready to go. Refill the bucket with clean water when you are ready to rinse off the soap.
  11. Have Your Plumbing Inspected - Faulty plumbing systems can lead to water waste, like if you have leaky pipes. Have your plumber inspect your system to ensure everything is working as it should. Even a small, slow leak can let out several litres of water over time. Larger leaks can waste even more. Not only that but the water damage can cost you thousands of dollars for the repairs, on top of increased water utility bills (Link to average water bills blog post).
For expert plumbing in the Hunter Valley, call Fluid Plumbing Services. They'll conduct a thorough inspection and provide you with a free, no-obligation price quote for any necessary repairs.