Outdoor water use varies greatly throughout the country and throughout the year, depending on the season and the climate. This section contains ideas for using water more efficiently and reducing water use in your garden.
The way you water your garden can affect your plants’ growth, health and hardiness; it also determines how much water is used effectively and how much is wasted.
Apartment-dwellers need not miss out on the pleasures of gardening – plenty of plants thrive in pots and garden bags, set up in small areas.
Mulch keeps your garden looking tidy, reduces the need to water, suppresses weeds and it makes use of material that might otherwise be dumped in a landfill.
Growing your own herbs is easy, satisfying, and saves money on fresh herb plants sold at supermarkets – not to mention the packaging that goes with them.
A water meter is a device used to measure the volume of water usage. For households, they work in a similar way to electricity meters.
Washing your car can use large volumes of water. Waste water runoff is often full of detergents and other substances that can pollute waterways. Here are some ways to keep your car clean and reduce water wastage.
Every step makes a difference… and you’ll find 25 of them in this booklet! Together we can really help the environment — the more of us that step up, the bigger the difference we’ll all make.
Want to know where in your home you can save the most water?
A rainwater tank can save up to half your water use each year.
Water friendly gardens are designed for their soil type and climate, so they flourish with minimal watering.
A rain barrel collects rain for watering the garden, washing the car and other outdoor uses. A single rain barrel holds up to 250 litres, and double-barrel models hold 400 litres.
A rain garden has plants that tolerate extremes of rainfall.
Tap aerators restrict water flow from the tap without reducing water pressure.
A greywater recycling system collects used water from the washing machine, shower and bath and recycles it for use in the garden or for flushing toilets.
The information on the new water efficiency label can help you in choosing an appliance which will save you water.
Depending on where you live your wastewater will either leave your home through a sewer pipe or be treated on-site.
Excessive fresh water use comes at a cost to you, and to the environment. Even areas of high rainfall, (such as the West Coast of the South Island), face the cost of filtering and supplying clean water. Areas such as Canterbury are facing even more issues due to the low rainfall.
