We live on the driest inhabited continent in the world and according to many scientists it is only going to get drier. By 2030 we can expect 20% less rain than we currently receive. In fact, average inflows to Perth's integrated water supply between 1997 and 2004 were 64% lower than in the years up to 1974.
Meanwhile the average home in Australia uses over 459 kilolitres of water every year, or 1,259 litres per day, of which nearly half goes on watering gardens and lawns. The consumption of this scarce resource continues to increase every year at the same time as water is becoming more and more scarce.
The Water Services Association of Australia estimates that 300GL of recycled water may be needed by 2030 to help meet the growing demand. Without action now Australian cities will face a shortfall of 1,180 billion litres by that time. That's enough to fill Sydney Harbour two-and-a-half times over.
With some simple measures we can all reduce our water demand by as much as 60%, conserving our most valuable and fragile resource. Low-flow taps and showerheads, water-efficient washing machines and dual flush toilets all contribute to saving water, but what about the garden?
Now you can actually save water and give your garden all of the water it needs all year round at the same time. This helps the environment, helps your garden and helps you to save money. Increasing restrictions on the use of domestic bores mean that you can no longer be guaranteed that you will have sufficient water to keep your gardens looking great.
There are many simple ways you can make a difference:
Instead of letting grey water wash down into the sewer, use it to water your garden. No more thirsty lawns and garden beds in the summer! It doesn’t make sense to water your garden with drinking water.
While most of us are using valuable drinking water to feed the garden, we’re also letting perfectly good water run off our roofs and straight into the storm water drains. This places additional strain on the storm water system and wastes a valuable resource. Why not make use of this free supply?
With low-rate finance now available thanks to Generation GreenTM Personal Loans from Bendigo Bank, you can start saving water from as little as $10 a week.