When our dogs water dishes need changing because of dirt or leaves blowing in them, I tip the water into the watering can and put on our hanging baskets. I use the soapy washing up water on the roses to help get rid of aphids.
- Betty Brennan, Clifton Springs
I collect the water used to wash vegetables for watering the plants. I also use a half-flush on the toilets and ecomonic-rapid on the washer. I catched the cold water in the shower while waiting for the water temperature to turn warm and use the water for watering the garden.
- Joanne Seah
I recycle my kitchen washing water by using it to keep my compost moist.
- Jennie Leslie, Frankston
Waterproof labels/stickers placed near taps in the home and workplaces etc. "TURN THE PRESSURE DOWN"
- Robyn Scott, Bundoora
We wash our veggies in a bucket instead of the sink and then we steam our veggies tip the leftover cooled water into the bucket of water (from washing the veggies)and either tip the water onto the garden or if its been raining, into our grey water rubbush bin for watering for another day.
- Saar Smith, Greensborough
My washing machine is directly hooked up to run the grey water into my garden and lawn. I also collect the shower water that runs until the water heats up into a bucket to use on my pot plants.
- Kaye Logan, Hampton
I always have a full load of clothes to wash, and I keep a bucket in the shower to catch water for plants.
- Helen Robinson, Bayswater
Buckets in showers, grey water diversion, A front loader washer and toilet conversion, A rain water tank, we plant and mulch natives, Saving our water means being creative!
- Jenny Cavanagh, Montmorency
We have more of our roof area connected to our water tank.
- Joel Carr, Seddon
We save the water from the washing machine and shower and water while we are waiting for the hot water to come through the pipes. small tank in back yard. Mulch to all gardens. drought tolerant plants.
- Shirl Hocking, Grovedale
Many ways - bath with the 4 kids (not all at once) - shower with my wife (short and very sweet!) - using the bath and shower water to water the garden.Even though it is time consuming (using buckets) we as a family of 6 now and down to a family of 2 water usage. Not only is this great - our family are very 'water aware' which is great for the future.
- Greg Lee, VIC
Unable to afford a water tank, we cut off one of our down- spouts to fit a giant plastic barrel underneath it. When we have to water our vegi garden, we just scoop out what we need from the barrel with a bucket or a watering can!
- Cynthia Smart, Yarra Junction
Besides the normal procedure of collecting water after the clothes washing, I use shower water bucketful of water (2 showers in the house) in to the first fill of the washing machine. That not only saves about 16 litres per wash but also it means the water is actually used 3 times Shower, wash then garden.
- Bronwyn Flanagan, Bentleigh
I spend as much time in the kitchen as my lovely wife Helen. I use paper towel to save water it does the job you would normally use water for.eg I wipe dishes with paper towel instead of rinsing them before I put them in the dishwasher.This also works really well for greasy fry pans or pots before you wash them.
You always end up with gunk in the bottum of the sink after washing up. Instead of rinsing it down I wipe it.The paper towel then goes into the veggie scrap bin we have inside to collect compost materials. It helps to keep down any smells from the bin because it absorbs the excess moisture from the veggie scraps.Also another tip I picked up is to put shredded newspaper in the bottom of the liner in your vegy scrap bin. This works wonders to stop smells from the bin and is great for the compost!
- Garry Dowling, Dandenong North
I didn't realise that the hot outlet dripped at least 2 buckets of water a week so I now collect it and throw on garden beds.
- Vivian Baker, Newtown
As water saver shower heads don't work for electric gravity fed systems, how to achieve the same result? Answer. Fit an extension arm to the wall fitting as less water pressure is needed when falling directly from above (using the existing shower head), than directing water horizontally.
- Nigel Madeley, VIC
Saving water >>> collect shower water in buckets>> glasses of drinking water not drunk goes on indoor plants >>> overflow from small watertank goes to various parts of garden via 4 hose outlets instead of down the stormwater drain.>>> shredded paper mixed with straw/mulch goes onto garden>>> grey water from laundry goes onto garden.
- Jeanette Robertson, Yarraville
We hand wash dishes in a removable bowl in the sink and empty the water into a bucket and use it on the garden. We collect water from the garage roof into a wheelie bin. We collect water as it warms up in the shower in a bucket. We have planted a cactus garden that only requires a small amount of water.
- Cheryl Pepper, Warrandyte
just a few we have adopted: rainwater tank on drip system, washing machine pumped onto back lawn, front lawn removed, mulched with dry tolerant plants and natives, water collected on nearly all downpipes with rain drain used on vegies, buckets in the showers in summer. Our garden has not used mains water to keep it alive since dec 2006 only lost a few azaleas on those very hot days this year.
- Julie Burke, Chelsea Heights
Each morning before running the hot water for the shower I go to the washing machine. (Top Loader) and turn the hot water tap on. Once I feel the hot coming through I turn it off and go and have my shower. The result is I save the cold water in the pipes into the washing machine approx 4-5 litres per day and not down the plug until hot comes. Hot water is now at my shower tap as it went past. As I use cold for the wash, by the time a week has gone by I have to only add a few more litres to use the washing machine.When washing, the rinse cycle is then sent outside, collected in drums and spread over the garden.
- Andrew Callow, Dingley Village
As I'm on tank water only one of my tips is I hold a jug under the kitchen tap whilst I'm waiting for the hot water to come through to wash the dishes and use that water for my indoor plants.
- Jenny Morsby, Baringhup
We have just put in a new garden that takes up over 50% of our backyard... no grass to mow! It has been planted out with tube stock that is drought tolerant. We reclaimed the soil by covering the grass with thick layers of newspaper and mulched heavily with compost. We also have a vegie garden that is watered by hand using our small 1000 lt tank and have diverted some rain water into a childs clam pool to use on the tube stock.
- Carl Leech, Romsey
To save water in our house, i've trained my family to only ever use half flush - even for "number two's"- it usually does the "job".
- Maria Parascandalo, Box Hill North
We save the grey water from our showers by putting the plug in the bath and then using a small pump to hose it out to the garden, moving it to the plants that need it most.
- Charles Parascandalo, Box Hill North
We are going to pull down our existing house soon which has buckets under all the gutter holes, buckets in the shower,the garden tap has not been used for 2 years and the average water usage is under 155 a day for 4 people!!! In the new house I plan to have no buckets but solar hot water and as much water storage as possible.Seeing there won't be a lot of room 4 an above ground tank, if my budget allows me I would love underground water storage.
- Tania Kaev, McKinnon
I ask the kids to fill and count 3 buckets for the bath. we also catch the water from the outdoor table cover for the garden and bird bath.And a grey water diverson.
- Michelle Radnidge, Ferntree Gully
Living in the country, saving water is a necessity. We catch as much rainwater as possible. We have containers where water falls, and then use the water in the garden when the ground is dry.
It's amazing how much we can capture with just a few large buckets, etc.
- Faye Hannam, Nagambie
My baby daughter sits in the bottom of the shower while i shower, saves running her a bath, and we still shower under 4 minutes.
- Lisa Thomson, Rosanna
Put a stick on 3 minute egg timer in the shower. The kids have fun measuring how long they are in the shower and are motivated to turn off the water when the time is up.
- Tony Lee, Concord
Unfortunatley my water saving is pretty limited and basic at the moment,I re use water from my sink and shower which i catch in my Hughie water saving device, a tankless system would be awesome my place is so dry!
- Matt Billings, Mount Martha
No dishwasher in our house, well I suppose there is! me. I don't wash the breakfast dishes on their own, I wait until I have lunch dishes or if we are at work wait and do them with the dinner dishes.
We took out the plugs on the plumbing to our bathroom 30 years ago when we were in a drought and have never put them back, evry time we use the bathroom one garden (which gets very little rain) gets a warm shower. Depending on how hard I work out at the gym, when I get home I pour the left over water from my water bottle onto a plant in the garden.
- Carol Mathrick, Patterson Lakes
I am removing our little-used 25,000 litre pool as it's a huge waste of water trying to maintain it. I crave having a larger garden area and DESPERATELY need Jane's help in this endeavour.
- Cheryl Humphrey, North Balwyn
Wait for a full load when washing clothes, Use the half flush on the dunny, Install an efficient shower head to save water and a bit of money. Don't leave taps running when brushing your teeth, don't leave taps running when shaving, don't leave taps running when rinsing the vegies, it's no way to be behaving! Use some mulch to stop evaporation, use some mulch to stop the weeds. When watering, aim for the base of your plants and definitely not their leaves. Install a Tankless underground system, WHAT A TOP IDEA! Collect the rain water from your well maintained gutters and you'll be watering 12 months of the year.
- Catherine Kavenagh, Norlane
1. To wash our cars, I use a product called "Waterless Wash" by Polyglaze. It is available from hardware and department stores and some supermarkets, and costs around $8.00 for a 750ml bottle. Then all you need is 2 or 3 microfibre cloths, which cost $2.00 each in those $2.00 type shops. It is really easy to use, does not need one drop of water and is non-abrasive on the duco. It takes no time at all; in fact I can do the whole car in under an hour while I am waiting for my daughter at ballet. I figure it's good exercise too. I estimate that you would get 3 to 4 washes for a small sedan out of one bottle, depending on how dirty the car is to begin with. 2. Also, while I am cooking or doing "kitchen duties" I was amazed at how many times I used to turn on the tap to rinse my hands. They were not "dirty" as such, but just had food on them, which I wanted to get off. So now instead of constantly rinsing under the tap, I just put the plug in the half-sink and re-use the same water for the duration of the day. 3. Also my 7 y.o. daughter showers with me (very quickly) on weekends, & at other times only has very shallow baths, about 2 inches is all that is needed. Then of course the excess water is bucketed onto our garden. 4. Rather than leave a toilet "unflushed" which I find unhygenic, if I am going to use the toilet I always ask my daughter if she needs to go first. 9 times out of 10 she does, and we can then do just one half-flush for the two of us.
- Leanne Baxter, Armadale
We have been saving water at least 12 years now, Nip my husband put in a copper hot water tank on a stand that came from the inside ceiling of an old house, put a tap on and it worked and looks really rustic. Then we put in an old oil tank that people used for heating their homes in the good old days, put that on a stand and it collects all my grey water,and from the tap attached is a long hose which goes around the garden to a kids plastic sand shell, and thats where a scoop my water 3 litres per plant by using recycled milk containers as buckets. Both tanks hold about 500 litres and I have saved all my ferns, birdnest and other plants like that for years and it is very enjoyable even though it can be time consuming. So that is how we save our water, thankyou for reading this and good luck to us...
- Anita and Nip, Bonbeach
We purchased a 190lt plastic drum with lid, and a second hand submersible pump and fittings to connect garden hoses to drum. Drum sits outside laundry, washing machine connects to drum via short hose to catch rinse water and shower water by buckets. We connect multiple hoses to water front and rear gardens. We also have a 2000L Tank and pump in backyard and we plan to run a pipe along side fence with multiple hose fittings to enable choice of feed points to any part of garden.
- Sue Rowe, Glen Waverley
Had a Brisbane City Council approved plumber give us advise and install water saving taps and shower heads. Installed dual flush toilets, 3000L above ground rainwater tank, use gray water from washing machine to keep house foundations moist, use of large containers and buckets to collect rain, washing car with buckets and rainwater from tank.
- Lawrence Cheung, Boondall Heights
I am proud to say our last bill came in at 248 litres per day - a family of 4 adults with 2 dogs, a fish tank, a fish pond, and a garden (which admittedly could look better than it does!).
The right shower heads, a front loader, and discipline (even from the boys) all contribute. I started to treat water as if I was camping - the knowledge of having to fetch and replenish the supply makes you incredibly inventinve. And yes like other listeners have observed, it takes up to 2 litres to get warm water flowing, which can be saved and used in a multitude of other ways.
And the fish are still happy too!
- Sharyn G, VIC
My wife Helen and i bought our house in Rye in December 2000.The garden was full of imported plants so i felt that was the best place to start.I spoke to a local horticulturist i know who gave me the lowdown on not just natives,but natives indegenous to this area,poas,cushion bushes,nobby club rushes,and salt bushes,and some local ground covers.So,out with the bad and in with the good,cleaned every plant in the garden out,including 6 ute loads of horrible ivy.We then extended the garden beds to minimise lawn areas,hard for me to do being a greenkeeper by trade,but the work continued.We then started planting out with the natives recommended to me and started to mulch the gardens,we get our mulch from the local tip and re mulch every year.The natives need virtually no watering at all,i even put an irrigation system in the garden beds,but took it out 3 years later because it never needed to be used.These plants thrive in the thirsty sandy soil around here and are virtually maintenance free.They get a mixture of seasol and powerfeed when they look like they need it,apart from that i dont touch them.Garden problem solved.We then installed a 5000 litre tank in the back yard and had this connected to 2 toilets and the washing machine.In the 2 years since we had the tank installed the lowest it has been is about a third full,and to compliment the tank ,we sold our old top loader washing machine,{tried on buy,swap and sell, not even a nibble,lol},and purchased a water efficient front loader washing machine.All this was done progressively over a few years and we are very pleased with the result.We did lose some plants over the really hot spell last summer,and i had to remove some native daisy bush's that just went beserk and got too big for their own good,i have replaced them with more poas and a couple of more cushion bushes and they are coming along nicely.Those cushion bushes are amazing,so tough and beautiful at the same time,and i love the salt bush's when they get the little flowers on it,this is how we save water and it seems to be working a treat.
- Shane Aspel, Rye
We stand in a large rubber dish under the shower then bucket all the saved water through the bathroom window into a wheelie bin. With a tap on the bottom of the bin we simply connect the tap to the permanent hoses on our garden beds and let it drain out. I haven't had to use fresh water on the front garden for months now. You don't realise how much water you waste even with a 4 minute shower.
- Sharyn Hofstede, Werribee
Use a bucket in the shower while waiting for the water to heat up, stick to 4 minutes shower, run the dishwasher only when it is full, and run the washing machine in full load only.
- Jenny DeVries, NSW
I always tip my daughters half empty water bottles into my pot plants rather than down the sink. The plants win, and so do I. It's an excuse to get out of the house and into the backyard.
- Tanya Wynne, Pakenham
My best water saving tip is - I buy Dettol Healthy Touch instant hand sanitizer's and have them in the toilet/bathroom/kitchen and in the laundry, and you wash your hands with it - you don't need to use any water and the way I see it, I am saving alot of valuable water with everyone in the house using this instead of running the tap and wasting water. The money I spend in buying this product is well worth the amount of water we save.
- Linda Abblitt, VIC
saving cold water from shower and other taps when waiting for hot to come, the shower water goes into washing machine. water from taps is used for rinsing veggies filling dogs bowls, washng down sink/dishes. if not needed it goes into washing machine. this depending on weather. also used for watering potted plants etc.
grey water from shower and washing machine goes to garden. I have 2 pods collecting water from garage and half house. I rigged up runners around back shed so water runs off into barrells which I use for veggies. barrels are used for catching drips from roof and anywhere else drips come from. have a dual flush system which only EVER uses half flush, only used when 'required'. Have a pod in front garden collecting water via a hose from gutter. The pods I have can be used via gravity which means no power to use this water. I have room for a bladder tank under house and if I had one we could use the other pods better.
- Ken Evans, Lilydale
Use 2 in 1 shampoo/conditioner in shower. It's alot quicker so use less water than putting in the conditioner after shampooing your hair.(don't know if its that great for your hair, but at least it saves a bit of water!)
- Debra Oldland, Belgrave Heights
Installed two small water tanks to help water garden.
- Mary Tomlinson, Bundoora
Quick shower and we have 44 gallon drum outside to catch rain water and use it for our plants.
- Frank Mcshane, Werribee
I have designed a system to save water, by converting our old (disused for 30 years)underground Septic Tank into a water storage tank. Water from a portion of the house roof area is directed by pipes into the tank. The kitchen sink water can also be directed through a two way valve into the tank, utilizing the old grease trap which has a filter fitted. This method is used when there is insufficient rainfall to keep the tank full. (mostly through the summer months) The tank has a Pressure Pump attached which feeds to installed garden taps. Pipes are in place to feed the house toilet systems if needed in the future. Overflow water from the tank runs onto the lawn and garden area through AG pipes. A Tankless Water Tank could be fed off the remaining house roof area. This would almost ensure my garden and part of the house would be drought proof.
- George Dickson, Mooroolbark
I drink only champagne!
- Nicola Lane, Eltham
(1)I try not to let any water dissapear down the plug hole! (2) I collect all the cold water from the tap in a jug/bucket as I wait for it to get hot. I keep this water in a seperate bucket to my soapy water. I use this clean water on the garden or to fill the kettle, or most importantly to fill the washing machine for the rinse cycle. (3) After washing hands(plug in of course)or dishes etc, I use a plastic jug to dipper the water into buckets. I use this to flush the toilets (The more people to wash their handsthe more water to flush the loo) although with a bit of forethought the hot soapy water can be shared. (4) Once again in the shower I run the cold water into a bucketwhile waiting for the hot. Wet the body-takes about 10 seconds. Turn the tap off I Lather up"do" what ever needs doing - soap hair etc. Turn on tap just to 'rinse' only- not because it feels great! 20 seconds! (5)I save the hot water from the washing machine and re- use it. Then store it if neccessary.
The rinse water I catch in buckets and that goes on my vegie garden. (6) On a wet day!! If my bins are not full of rubbish I use the water diverters that I have fitted to the down pipes on the house and carport to collect the water in the bins and bucket that onto my garden. Yes there are always buckets around the place but that's life if you do not have a tank.
- Mae Jesson, Wattle Glen
WE DO THE USUAL THINGS. BUCKET OUT THE WATER AND WATER OUR PLANTS, USE OUR GREYWATER AND HOPE FOR THE FUTURE!!!
- Gaye Jackson, Melton
Collect all water from washing vegies, use to water garden, collect all shower water with buckets-use garden,use 2 baby baths collect rain water in-water car and garden.
- Beth McLeod, Caulfield Sth
Empty water dont drink garden, 50 second showers,keep clothes clean so mum doesnt have wash so often.
- Matthew McLeod, Caulfield Sth
We are teaching our young children how precious our water is by minimising our water use in the usual ways. We also have family competitions of new ways: emptying our water glasses into the cat's water bowl.
- Alicia Bardsley, Bentleigh
Last year we put in a pool, (because I have M.S} and the heat really knocks me around. consequently we have been obsessed by saving water,to keep the pool full, we have flexible pipes from all the down pipes running into the pool and different parts of the garden, we put in a 2,500 litre tank to collect all the water from the garage and the sheds withe the overflow from the tank running into the filter outlet of the pool, we also have a pipe connected under the house from the shower to run onto the front garden. our washing machine is connected to the outside outlet ond runs onto the back lawn. I think we have become obssesed with saving water, which is also saving us money,which we are happy with.
- Beverley Angelo, East Bentleigh
We believe it all the small things that make a difference: fixing leaking taps, short showers, shallow baths for the kids, not using the watering time when it has rained recently planting intelligently i.e. drought tolerant.
- Barnaby Wedd, Kew
My 11 year old daughter of her own back put a bucket at the back of our caravan because every morning she would come out and see a puddle either from rain or condensation and dew. So she put this bucket there to catch the water running of the van beacuse it was parked on the road and the water was going down the drain so every morning before school she would empty the bucket on the flowers or plants. I found out about this when i moved the bucket one weekend and got in big trouble because i had know idea what she doing as i am always gone before the kids get up in the morning. Very clever for an 11 year old.
- Darren Thomas, Werribee
Having retired,
All I wanted to do was re-create my garden to be admired,
I LOVE to dig, to plant & sow
Delight in watching vegies, cuttings grow.
I've grafted on my apple tree,
Grown bulbs from seeds, exciting experiment for me!
Felt delight,watched in awe,
Liliums from scales I hadn't tried before.
Having grown peaches, nectarines, apple trees from seed,
Family's enjoyed fresh fruit, jams, preserves, dried apricots, healthy indeed.
These trees were strong,
Twenty years on, their roots were long,
BUT with the drought
Came horrible doubt.
How can I water?
Should I bother?
I felt GREAT PAIN,
A beautiful garden being my special retirement aim.
For a while I gave up but couldn't survive, I have to garden for me to thrive.
As I nurture it,
I'm rewarded every bit.
It fills my soul,
Fills a special hole.
So I collect water from the sink,
Amazed me how much was wasted, made me think!
Buckets from showers,
Help grow some flowers
Grey washing water, I cart by the bucket, Keeps me fit, and on fruit trees I chuck it.
I manure, mulch and compost,
Saving water, I'm heavily engrossed.
Now we have tanks,
To my hubby, thanks,
But only 1/2 the roof it collects,
I'd so appreciate a "TANKLESS"
underground unit to store the rest.
At last I'd have the water,
For the final stages of my garden to be put in order!!
- Heather Ellery, Greenvale
To save water i am in the prosses of bulding a Reed Bed that will filter all our gray water. So all the graywater is captured under the frount verander then automaticly pumped to a tempry tank that slowly drains out to the 12x.500.500 reed bed. Then in about 5 days it overflows in to a pond and then it overflows into the final sand filter and in to a pipe back to another tank and then it will be pumped to the garden every day and to our toiletand maybe back to our washing machine as long as it is fillted to the right class of clean water. This will not be know untill its all up and running in about a 2 months as we are about to go on a 4 week holiday.Getting back home on the 18-19th July. I estermate that our water bill with out to washing machine will be down to a dayly average of 240Lt for our family of 4 compered to our water bill stating 471- 484 Lt for a family of 4. So at the moment i am at the stage with the reed bed in and two tanks under the verander, pump and pond and all i need to get is a small tank and pump and the pips in to conect it all up and get it runing.
- Keith Graham, Camberwell
Instead of showering everyday -once a week is quite adequate - For the other 6 days -have a sponge bath - half fill the hand basin - wash the essential parts of the anatomy - it's quick -effective and saves heaps of water. Only flush the toilet when absolutely necessary and save all water eg from hot water bottles, cooking,rinsing vegetables etc for your pot plants - it's amazing how much water you can utilize the second time around!!!
- Jewell Meredith, Nth Warrandyte
We installed a water converter under the house which uses the shower water for the garden. The great thing is that we can turn it off when we are using a lot of product such as shampoo. The gradiant of the land means we can water the front garden from the bathroom water. Other than that the most important thing is to choose the correct plants.
- Patrice Millar, Northcote
We installed 2X2100 liter watertanks to catch rain water when we are lucky enough to get some. Additionally we collect our shower water before its warm enough to hopp in. This adds about 100 liters per week with the two schowers and 5 people using it. The 3 miunte shower clock is a must for everybody. The cold shower water is also tipped into the tank as they are mainly used for topping up the pool. The downpipe near the pool has a diverter and filter which also runs into the pool. This additional top up allows for backwashing and cleaning. More than 50% of our rain water still leaves the property.We currrently dont have a front garden but it would be greatly enhanced as it would be a good time to install an underground tank before its beeing developed. It could also do with Jane's touch to ensure that it will prosper for many years to come.
- Peter Wollbrandt, Sydenham
On rainy days I don my raincoat, gumboots and a shower cap, park the car in the open and give it a wash. This is a super water saver and also means I can see clearly through all my windows. Hurray My friends are fed up with me berating them to follow my lead. But I haven't given up hope.
- Yvonne McBean
In our family we save water by using the same shower as i have conected a pipe for gray water to go out on to our front lawn and we time our showers to 3 min each our family limits baths to one a week for the girls after they have a bath i bucket the water on to the front lawn the rest of the time they have showers when we brush our teeth we fill one glass of water each to rinse out our mouth we also have a swimming pool so i diverted the storm water to the pool to keep it toped up i also have a 240 lt bin so i can wash the car or water the plants.
- Michael Muscat, Tarneit
Currently the kids bath water goes on the garden, as well as the washing machine water which is conected to hoses that run into the front & back yeards. But my favorite thing to do is wash my car in the rain, usually it only takes a quick shamy.
- Shane Dreier, Craigieburn
I haved installed a Showerdome to my shower and now even on these cold mornings l can turn off my shower while l wash my hair and still be warm. When l am ready to rinse off l turn the water back on and l am happy to know l am saving water. Also l don't need to use my exhaust fan as it prevents steam forming so l am also saving power, It's great!
- Jenni Hoobin, Montmorency
I take my Labrador to Gardiners Creek to swim everyday - this has cut down the need for frequent washing. I also collect rainwater to top up my fishpond which in turn means the native birds, cat and dog have a constant supply of water also.
- Ann Burmeister, Glen Iris
I have drilled a couple of holes in my spouting, underneath i put my rubbish bin so when it does rain the bin can fill up very quickly. I also put a bucket under the drip pipe of the hot water service to collect that water and put it on my vege's.
- Belinda Shone, Forest Hill
Have bucket in shower to water plants with, only buy drought resistant plants,never clean car-gets washed in rain.only do full loads washing, educate children not waste water also.
- Beth McLeod, Caulfield South
Collect water in buckets out in garden to water plants with,have container in shower also recyle shower water, and washing vege water from kitchen.
- Flora Munro, Highet
Our household's water consumption had been very much the same from one water bill to the next. I felt that the answer to saving water in our family of 6 would be to increase motivation. So my husband and I told our four teenagers (who don't often get treats due to lack of extra finances) that whatever amount we would manage to save in our next water bill by making our water usage less we would use as a family to go out to eat to a restaurant. It worked! Everyone started having shorter showers etc. We were all very excited to be rewarded with a dinner at Cuckoo Restaurant.
- Jaana Majoinen, Berwick
Be like us.our fridge broke down and we had to buy a new one the old one went out into the back yard on its back the freezer part catches water from the roof and the larger part washes the dog or in the summer months we stand our pot plants in it if we are going to be away.we think we are geniuses as well as recycling we have a water saving product as well regards shirley ps i hope we are the lucky ones.
- Shirley Culph, Bundoora
I pour water into an empty (clean) ice-cream container and use it to rinse dishes or vegetables in, instead of filling up the sink to do it. I also bath my children together to save on filling it up twice.
- Michelle Vamvas, NSW
We have altered our water using habits over the years & reduced our usage from 1050 litres per day in Jan o7 to our last bill was 551 litres per day. We changed our shower heads, we changed our washing machine to a front loader, we run the Grey water on to our back lawn, we have installed a 5000 litre tank with pump, we have 2 drain pipes diverted to trees, we collect the cold water from the our kitchen sink until it is hot and use it on our garden, we use the kids bath water on our garden and last of all we have a shower timer. We have 4 people living in our house and use 137.75 litres each per day.
- Paul Muscat, Altona Meadows
We have a shower timer and if someone (usually our 12 year old son) catches you when it's not on or it's run out you have pay up $5.00 to the person who catches you.
- Jenni Lawson, Malvern
We are saving for a spabath greywater tank and rain tank. We plan to fill the spa from the rain tank and use water from the spa to fill the grey water tank.
- Richard Kottek
Reusing the grey water from the washing machine on the garden and lawn, running the water from the shower onto the side and front garden.collecting the cold water from the tap while waiting for the hot water to run.limiting showers to as short a time as possible.Doing as few washes per week as possible. Collecting rain water in buckets. Washing the car when it rains.WE also put in a duel flush cisten.Changed our shower head.Keeping our water usage to under 150 litres a day.
- Stephen Duncan
We have the front garden all worked out as a water saving solution; attractive drought hardy natives mostly, some Sir walter grass that is watered by mostly rain water and supplmented by our gem of a grey water hose from our shower over warmer months. The back is yet to be done as we have been saving money to buy the perfect water storage solution to support our own vegie patch....maybe we will have it this year?
- Tessa Kruyer
Outside the house where the waste water pipes are, I've removed the inspection cover and placed a 'water-deck'with a hose attached from the bath room & laundry; I move the hoses around the front lawn & trees. Also I got my builder to drill a hole in the side of the house to put the washing machine waste water hose. The builder put a piece of 60mm pipe in the hole, filled the extra spce in the hole and covered it with silicone, to stop bugs, spiders etc getting in. The silicone obviously is to stop any rain & moisture getting in the house. I have a front loading washing machine & use 'Earths-Chioce'laundry liquid. We have a bucket in the shower, kitchen & laundry sink to catch the water while we are waiting for the hot water tocome through the pipe. This water is clean water I use to water herbs, friut trees and veggies. I've also placed a bucket under my electric hot water service's overflow pipe. The hot water service lets about 1-2 litres of water out of this pipe each night when it heats up, this to is clean water used for herbs, friut tress & veggies too. When we do get rain i move the pot plants from my verandah out into the rain. When I give the chooks and cat fresh water I tip the old water onto my garden. I use "Wetta-Soil" and sugar cane mulch on all of my gardens. When i plant new veggie or flower seedlings I put a pinch of "Rain-Saver" water storing crystals. I also use the lawn clippings to mulch around trees. And when I clean out the chook-house I use the straw & manure along with sugar cane to mulch the veggie patch. I've used in-line dripper hoses to water my gardens rather than spray irrigation. I compost everything I can to make my own mulch,the compost & 'Seasol' have also helped my plants to survive. I've had my plumber install a new toilet with a dual flush system. All taps have the water aerators and a new water saving shower head fitted. When the water restrictions first came in (I can't remember what year) I'd reduced my summer water bill by 2/3's. My garden actually looked better compared to other years. Each year my summer water bill has continued to go down because of all the water saving things I do. And I did purchase a water tank last year too!
- Robyn Johnson
Our 1 parent 2 kid household works really hard - We are under target 155 per person by doing following: 2 minute timed showers. Plug goes in bath/shower in summer to use for watering fruit trees in front yard by bucket. Low phosphate soaps used all round house, washing machine water used for backyard watering. Dont use hose at all for watering. Bucket sits under hot water runoff for dogs drinking water. Buckets under eaves of shed to water vegie patch. Make our own compost, all vegies,fruit trees, roses etc well composted. Make our own mulch by mowing the leaves up from silky oaks and using as mulch. Any left over water from drink bottles and left over cups of water (from meal times etc)are put in dogs water bowl. Cooking water from vegies etc cooled and put on garden. While waiting for hot water out of taps, initial cold water is saved in jug for drinking or for garden. Toliet is only flushed for poos. Washing maching is 6th sense - so only uses just right amount of water for load being washed. Dishwasher is one shelf only, must be completly packed full before being turned on. The only thing i am missing is a water tank (plllllleeeeease!!)
- Belinda Ord, Ringwood North
In our home we have found numerous ways to save water, even my 4yr old daughter understands that we must be careful with the water we use. We have made lots of changes by ensuring firstly that the home is leak free and repairing any dripping taps and have replaced the washers. We have replaced both shower heads with the ultra low flow version. When it rains we place plastic buckets outside to collect the following day for watering plants, water for dog, rinsing fruit & vegetables, etc. We use a timer for the shower and place a bucket in the shower when turning on water. When bathing children I bath them together making sure to only fill the bath approx. 1/3 full. After then children have a bath we use buckets to collect the water for the garden. We have sure seen a dramatic difference to the usage of water in our home.
- Melissa Suli, Narre Warren
Apart from two water tanks, efficient shower heads, buckets in showers, etc, the main water saving device is a converted wheelie bin with outlet and hose attached. Laundry water is piped into this then wheeled to a section of garden in need of it. The same wheelie bin is used for backwashing the pool, from where it is then piped to a lower section of the garden. The bin also allows for Seasol or other fertiliser to be added before watering the garden. I also have a submersible water pump for this bin in case I cannot gravity feed to water the garden.The bin can also be used with a downpipe diverter to catch rain water.
- Derek Mandy, Templestowe
We use all grey water on our front and back lawns and shrubs from the washing machine. Also have a bucket in each shower to collect water and use it to flush our toilets. We also have an ice-cream container in both bathroom basins to collect grey water which is then transferred to two rotating buckets in bath tub, also used to flush toilets. Any drinking water from water bottles that is not consumed goes onto our two fruit trees. We wash our pergola pavers and outdoor furniture with grey water from the washing machine to keep it fresh. Not forgetting, brief showers always.
- Margaret McNaughton, Hillside
I keep a couple of clean, empty bottles or plastic jugs on my benchtop to collect the cold water if I am needing to use hot water only. By the time the water gets to the warmer temperature, I can save quite a bit of which would otherwise have been wasted down the sink. I then use it to water our vegie patch, or plants, or even use it to rinse dishes.
- Michelle Vamvas, Bundoora
We have unleashed the next generation. Our kids, especially our 10 yo daughter are in charge of reminding us. All the wonderful information they learn at school is then implemented here. If we forget and do something wasteful they remind us, with authority. Short showers, recycling water, using every available roof space, composting, mulching, insulating, only buying plants suitable for dry conditions, using soil wetter, crystals...if their generation keeps this up they will save the planet.
- Anita Ekberg
