Outside your home

Top 10 tips For saving water outside your home

1. Install a rainwater tank

2. Reuse greywater on your garden

3. Use a trigger nozzle hose

4. Use a bucket when washing your car

5. Use a broom to clean driveways and paths

6. Plant drought resistant plants

7. Use mulch on your garden to keep in moisture

8. Use a pool cover to stop evaporation

9. Follow the current water restrictions

10. Regularly monitor your water meter

For more information visit www.gwcwater.nsw.gov.au

Pools and spasEvaporation is a major reason for water loss from pools and spas. You can reduce the amount of water used for pools and spas by:• installingapoolcovertoreduce

evaporation• backwashingyourfilteronthe

lawn• usingabucketorrainwatertank

to top up your pool • installingacoveroverthepoolsuch

as a shade sail to limit evaporation• followingthecurrentwaterrestrictions.

TapsandfixturesDripping taps can waste up to 200 litres per day.You can check if you have a leak by regularly monitoring your water meter. If you see a large increase in your meter readings it is possible you have a leak. To check for a leak you should record the reading when no water will be used for a few hours, like before you go to bed. Check the water meter in the morning and any increase shows there may be a leak. You can reduce the water wasted fromtapsandfixturesby:• fixingdrippingtaps,usuallyby

replacing the washer • installingnewwaterefficient

taps • retrofittingoldtapswithaeratorsorflowcontrol

valves. Ifyoucan’tfindthesourceoftheleakorneedhelpchangingfixturescontactyourplumber.

Living Water Smart - Outside your homeHouseholds are responsible for almost 80 percent of all water use on the Central Coast. About 30 percent of this from outside activities like watering the garden, washing your car or maintaining your pool.

By Living Water Smart in your home you can help save this precious resource and secure our water supply for years to come.

The Central Coast has a daily water use target of 150 litres per person. By following this target you can save water and money. This brochure gives you some tips to help reduce your water use.

Car and boat washingReduce the amount of water used when washing your car or boat by using a bucket and sponge or a trigger nozzle hose.

To minimise runoff it is recommended you wash your car or boat on the lawn.

You should also follow the current water restrictions for car and boat washing.

Other outdoor cleaningReduce the amount of water used for outside cleaning by using a broom, brush or rake. Swap your hose for a:

• broomtocleandrivewaysandpaths

• bucketandspongetocleanwindowsandoutdoor furniture.

Gardens and lawns

21%for watering

the garden and lawn

You can reduce the amount of water used in your garden by:• usingnativeanddroughttolerantplants• compostingthesoil• installingadripirrigationsystemwithtimer• installingarainwatertank• wateringwithatriggernozzlehoseandonlyat

times when restrictions allow• usingsoilwettingagentsorwatersaving

crystals• usingmulchtoreducewaterloss.

You can reduce the amount of water used on your lawn by:• limitinglawnwateringduringwinter• usinganalternatesourceofwatersuchasa

rainwater tank or greywater• mowinggrasshighertomakeitmoredrought

tolerant• notmowingifhotweatherisexpected• reducingyourgrassedarea• fertilisingallyearround.

Donotusefixedhoses,sprinklersandmicrospray systems for watering your garden or lawn. These devices waste a large amount of water.

30%of water used in the home is from outside

activities