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Get water wise; save water to save money

World Water Day a good day for a shorter shower

Manukau City (19 March 2009) – Manukau Water Limited is urging people to take some time out this Sunday, 22 March, to think about how they can use water more wisely.

This Sunday is International World Water Day. The day is sanctioned by the United Nations and is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing attention on sustainable management of freshwater resources.

Raveen Jaduram, chief executive of Manukau Water Limited, said that in New Zealand World Water Day is an opportunity for people to think about how they use water and to look at opportunities to use it more wisely.

“In New Zealand we don’t have a shortage of water but certainly we can use it more wisely. It is expensive to collect and treat water and by minimising the use of water we can all save ourselves some money, while at the same time being kinder to the planet.”

Auckland’s population is expected to double within the next two decades.  Studies indicate that if the Auckland region reduces water demand by at least 15 percent of 2004 levels by 2025, it will be possible to defer infrastructure expenditure of around $300 million on a new major water source.

“The potential financial savings are enormous if we all do a little to use water more wisely,” Mr Jaduram said.

Manukau Water Limited charges a variable rate for water, meaning the less water people use, the less they pay. Therefore there is a financial incentive for people to use less water.

“Every water user can take some simple steps to use water wisely, and by doing so they can be better off financially,” Mr Jaduram said.

Three simple ways to use water more wisely are:

1)    Check and fix any leaking taps

2)    Take shorter showers; for every person who spends one minute less in the shower each day you could save $18 a year

3)    Use a plug. When rinsing dishes or washing fruit or vegetables; or when washing hands or shaving, put a plug in the sink rather than running water down the drain.

Visit www.manukauwater.co.nz for tips on wise water use.

Below are some other clever ways to save water- and save money.

In the bathroom

Don’t leave taps running unnecessarily, for example when you are brushing your teeth. 10 litres a minute runs through your taps when they’re turned on.
If you are building or renovating, consider installing a dual flush toilet, a low flow shower head, or other water saving device. Using a water efficient dual flush toilet means you can choose to flush only half the water in the cistern.

Check your bathroom taps for leaks – a dripping tap can waste more than 5,000 litres of water a month.

Check your toilet for leaks. Try a few drops of food colouring in the toilet cistern and wait a while. If the food colouring appears in the toilet bowl without flushing, you have a leak. You can save up to 2.5 million litres of water (35,000 bathtubs of water) a year by fixing your leaky loo.

Don't use the toilet as a rubbish bin by flushing tissues or squashed bugs that should be put in the bin
Opt for a shower over a bath – if you have shorter showers you will save a lot of water and you will also save on water heating costs.
Consider installing water-efficient shower head or flow restrictors. Water efficient showerheads can save you around $100 per year on your water and energy bills.
In the laundry

Washing machines with 3-star or 3A rating use around half as much water as a conventional washing machine, but still give you the same clean clothes. If your machine has a water level adjustment, use it. Otherwise, only run the machine if you have a full load.
In the kitchen

Don't wash the dishes, or scrub vegetables with the water running. Put the plug in and run some water into the sink.

Check taps and pipes for leaks. Dripping taps waste a surprising amount of water. Worn washers most commonly cause leaky taps. Replacing tap washers is a basic do-it-yourself job, however, if you're not confident with it, call a plumber.

A typical dishwasher uses 125 litres of water per load, so it’s a good idea to wait until you’ve got a full load before you run .
Running water to cool it down for drinking wastes 10 litres a minute. Keep a jug of drinking water in the fridge.

In the garden and outdoors

If you have a pool, a pool cover is a clever way to reduce evaporation and the need to regularly top up your pool's water level. Without a cover, more than half the water in your pool can evaporate over a year.
Keep all your kitchen scraps, lawn clippings and garden waste - they're perfect for homemade compost, which your soil will love.
If you need a watering system consider installing a drip irrigation system. It will cut wastage by making sure the water goes only where you need it.
If you use a sprinkler use a timer with it - a forgotten sprinkler wastes more than 1000 litres per hour - a timer will allow you to place as much water as is needed without the threat of wastage.

A good soaking every now and then with a hand-held hose will help make your lawn more drought resistant by encouraging deeper roots. Soak don't spray - while giving the garden a quick drink every night may be good therapy for you, it does nothing for the plants. It makes them shallow rooted and dependant on the meagre amount of water you provide. Water your plants every fourth day in summer but water for longer periods. This makes plants hardier and encourages the roots to go deeper into the soil to seek out moisture.

When planting new garden beds, group plants with similar watering needs together.

Try not to cut lawns too short. When mowing, cut only the top third of the leaf area, leaving it three centimetres or higher.

Watering your garden in the cool of the early morning, or in the evening reduces water loss through evaporation - early morning is ideal. Cooler times are better for the plants and less water is wasted through evaporation. Avoiding watering in windy weather also reduces loss through evaporation.

When washing your car, park it on the lawn and use a bucket for washing and rinsing. This way you can save water, as well as water and fertilise your lawn - car shampoos use phosphates that are similar to many fertilisers.
 
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