Water restrictions encourage people to use water saving devices like trigger nozzles on hoses.By Ed Merrison
AS SPRING promises to usher in the warmth and hours of sunning it up in the garden, it is vital to remember the toll a dry climate takes on that most precious commodity – water.
With stage one water restrictions now in place, home owners need to be smarter about the way they use water in and around the home.
The good news is that being smart and living well do not have to be incompatible.
Tony Kelly, managing director of Yarra Valley Water, said residents were already doing a good job of saving water but after the driest winter since 1982 and storage levels at 46.6 per cent, more needs to be done.
An easy way to save water in the home is to reduce shower times to four minutes, use the half toilet flush and install flow restrictors and water efficient fixtures.
“The average flow in a standard showerhead is 15 to 20 litres per minute, while water efficient showerheads use between 7.5 and nine litres per minute, potentially saving up to 20,000 litres per household per year,” Mr Kelly said.
The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting a dry spring, so gardeners will have to be canny to keep the garden beautiful while complying with restrictions.
“A low water-use garden doesn’t have to be one that is sparse and dry; people will be surprised how easy it is to have a lush, healthy garden while using less water,” Mr Kelly said.
“Although the new restrictions allow the use of manual and automatic watering systems on alternate days, we need to be sensible about when we water our gardens.
“For example, if rain is predicted on the four-day weather forecast, let Mother Nature do the job.”
Hand-held hoses fitted with a trigger nozzle, watering cans and buckets can be used at any time to water gardens and lawns.
Mr Kelly said people could train their plants to become more drought tolerant by watering less frequently to encourage deep root growth.
Plants with the same water requirements should be grouped together in the garden to avoid over-watering, while mulch and wetting agents can also play a key role in maintaining soil moisture levels.
“I’d encourage everyone to get down to their nearest Water Saver Garden Centre for practical advice and ideas on how to have a lush, healthy garden while using less water,” Mr Kelly said.
Yarra Valley Water customers can visit www.yvw.com.au or call 13 17 21 for more information about stage one water restrictions.
