Save money and time with clever design

MEDIA RELEASE

Date: 18 October 2012
Save money and time with clever design

Spring is here; time to wind back the pool cover and get the water tested, have garden irrigation installed or your current system serviced and consider reducing your water bill by having a water tank installed. The days of big ugly tanks in the garden are long gone and there are now some attractive slim fit designs on the market and also bladder tanks that tuck underneath your house, completely out of site! Experts tell us that clever design can result in low maintenance outdoor living that will look aesthetically pleasing whilst saving you money and freeing up your time. William Thorne, of Think Water, Auckland specialises in the field. “It’s important to consider what sort of irrigation you want before you start your landscaping, so that pipes can be laid under concrete or buried out of site. Water tanks are a brilliant way to collect water and are easy to tuck out of sight.”

Surprisingly some people install an irrigation system and find their water usage goes up instead of down, this is caused by poor planning and design. The key to successful irrigation is using experienced technicians and having a well designed plan that takes into account what sort of plantings you have and which spray heads are best suited and avoiding overlapping sprays. A quality controller will ensure your garden gets the right amount of water, in the early morning when water pressure is more consistent and there is no evaporation, making it 30% more efficient. Technology in this area has really excelled and the new Hunter solar sync and rain sensors will actually work with your controller to measure the current rate of “evapotranspiration” and override the controller to supply exactly what is needed, ensuring not a drop is wasted, as well as saving you an additional 20% on your water bill!

William Thorne, of Think Water Auckland recently visited a client for their annual servicing of their irrigation system and to review how the system had performed in the past 12 months. “This particular client lives on a typical 500m2 urban section. Two years ago they had an automatic irrigation system put in comprising of pop-up sprinklers for the lawns, dripline for the rose garden and adjustable ‘shrubblers’ for the veggie boxes. Instantly they noticed a small drop of around 10% in their summer water bill. More importantly for the husband, he gained 14 hours a week that he had been spending dragging the hose around the garden for 2 hours every evening! They also returned to the UK for a month over summer during a long, hot, dry spell without having to worry about their garden suffering. Last year the aforementioned clients upgraded their system by adding a Hunter Solar Sync and were astounded at the sensitivity of the “evapotranspiration” function, which ensures zer
o wastage. The client estimates their water bill over the last 12 months is $200 less than the previous year and they are very happy with the result.”

Spring and summer are definitely when outdoor living comes into its own. Nothing beats enjoying a bottle of wine in the garden with friends on a summer evening or playing with the kids on the lawn. However, like a car, irrigation does need to be regularly serviced and maintained to work to its full potential. Go to www.thinkwaterauckland.co.nz or call 09 215 7310 for more tips on outdoor living from the water specialists.

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Top tips for outdoor living
- Weed – those weeds may look small now, but come summer they’ll shoot out with big, thirsty roots that will steal your plants’ water.
- Check plastic sheeting and weed mats; they’ll help keep the water in and the greedy weeds at bay.
- Get a garden plan. It will make it much simpler to maintain the health of your plants.
- Install an irrigation system that can be set to a timer while you’re on holiday and save you money on your water bill. Some even have rain sensors so they’ll only turn on when they’re needed. Talk to Think Water on 09 215 7310 about the latest innovations.
- Service your systems. If you have an irrigation or rainwater harvesting system, now is the time to get it serviced to check for damage and clogging.
- Start watering now. A consistent watering schedule will bolster your soil and plants and make them hardier in the hotter weather.
- Clear your guttering and drains. Winter weather can leave a lot of build up of debris, which can lead to all sorts of problems.

Editor Notes
Think Water is a national group of independently owned water management specialist. They’re experts in all things water, offering service, design and installation of top irrigation and rain-water harvesting systems, pumps and pool-maintenance products. For more information go to www.thinkwaterauckland.co.nz

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