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Some tips on saving water

There are a number of ways to save water, and they all start with you.

• When you save water, you save money on your utility bills too. Saving water is easy for everyone to do.
• Don't over-water your lawn. Only water every three to five days in hot weather and 10 to 14 days in cold weather.
• To prevent water loss from evaporation, don't water your lawn during the hottest part of the day or when it is windy.
• Repair leaking taps. A dripping tap (One drop per second could waste up to 30 litres of water an hour, which adds up to 10 000 litres a year.)
• Close the tap when cleaning your teeth or when shaving, as this will save you some more water. (This means 20 and 45 litres of water saving respectively)
• Only run the dishwasher and clothes washer when they are fully loaded.
• Defrost frozen food in the refrigerator or in the microwave instead of running hot or cold water over food.
• Use a broom, rather than a hose, to clean sidewalks and driveways.
• Use buckets to wash your car, instead of a hose, this will save you more water.
• Cover your swimming pool. You'll cut the loss of water through evaporation by 90 percent.
• Have a plumbing check and repair dripping faucets and leaky toilets. Dripping faucets and toilets can waste a lot of water a year.
• Water your lawn early in the morning or at night to avoid excess evaporation. .
• Use lawn chemicals only when necessary.
• When washing dishes by hand, rather use two basins - one for washing and one for rinsing do not leave the water running.
• Do not pour toxic chemicals (such as cleaning products, motor oil, weed-killers, or paints) down the drain. These must be disposed off properly.
• Avoid the washing down of forecourts and paved areas with a hosepipe, as this practice means more water down the drain, hence more money wasted.
• Water your garden less frequently, but deeper or for long, to encourage deeper root system and thereby make water wise plants out of most established plants.

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