Water
Water is a scarce and essential natural resource.
We can all care for our water by turning off the tap when we brush our teeth, fixing dripping taps, making sure waste is not poured down the stormwater drain or dumped into our waterways.
Why be WaterWise in your garden?
Your WaterWise garden will …
– save you money
Throughout Australia, water is becoming more and more valuable, so in the future, saving water will mean saving more and more money. By being WaterWise in your garden, you could cut your outdoor water use by up to 50 percent and still enjoy a green and pleasant garden.
– be low maintenance
With smaller lawns, clever landscaping, extensive use of mulching and well-designed irrigation systems, WaterWise gardens soon become a lot less work than conventional gardens.
– be more natural and help save our environment
A WaterWise garden:
• reduces the need for fertilisers and chemicals
• reduces the amount of runoff water and excess nutrients that flow into our stormwater system and to our waterways
• helps delay the need for new water sources.
Why be WaterWise in your home?
Your WaterWise home will …
– save you money
As well as reducing your water costs, you’ll also cut your energy bills. You pay to heat any hot water you use – so if you use less, it will cost you less.
– help save our environment
If you’re using too much water, you’re probably also using unnecessary amounts of detergents which end up in the environment where they can pollute our waterways.
– conserve valuable resources
Delivering drinking quality water to households consumes an enormous amount of resources – dams, treatment plants and wastewater treatment are large and costly infrastructure. If we can curb our household water use we can help delay the need for additional water infrastructure.
Domestic wastewater is water from our sinks, toilets and washing machines. While this wastewater flows to the sewage treatment plant, not all chemicals can be removed before its release to waterways or the ocean. We can help solve this problem by not pouring chemicals, oil, paint, solvents and other toxic substances down the drain or toilet. Your local council should be able to help you dispose of these things properly.
Last updated: 28 May 2007
