Guide to Saving Water At Home and in the Garden

1. Make every drop count!
Guide to saving water at home and in the garden

2. Working together to make every drop count
Water is the life blood of the Namoi Catchment.
Every person who lives in the area has the power to save water and to help ensure a
sustainable and affordable future water supply.
If we all make sure that every drop counts we can save millions of liters of water every year. If
everyone in the catchment cut their daily showers by one minute, over a year we would save
470 million liters!
This book is a joint initiative of the Namoi Catchment Management Authority and the Naomi
Local Government Group which represents the shires of Gunedah, Liverpool Plains, Narrabri,
Walcha, Walgett, Warrumbungles and the Tamworth Regional Council.
For more information visit
www.makingeverydropcount.com.au
Making every drop count - In the kitchen
WaterWise Tips
Fill it- Fill the dishwasher up before you use it.
Plug it- Put a plug in the sink when you rinse your vegetables or dishes.
Scrape it- Scraping dishes instead of rinsing saves even more water!
Chill it- Keep a container of drinking water in the fridge. Running the tap until the water cools
wastes waste’s water.
Microwave it- Use the microwave instead of running water to defrost foods.

3. WaterWise Products
Slow the flow- Install flow control devices or aerators in non-water efficient taps and slow
the flow to what is required.
Required Flows L/min
Kitchen Sink 12
Shower 9
Hand Basin 6
Laundry Tubs 12
Swish it- A sink swish lets you reduce water flow by creating a cleansing spray.
Double it- A double sink lets you wash dishes in the smaller deeper sink using less water to
convert them.
Making every drop count - In the bathroom
WaterWise Tips
Shorten it- Take shorter showers! Shaving your legs before you get under the shower will
save hundreds of liters of water each time.
Plug it- Put the plug in when shaving.
Halve it- use the half-flush button on the toilet if you have one.
Lower it- Try using less water in the bath.

4. WaterWise Products
Slow the flow- Flow control devices can reduce water flow.
Halve it- A dual flush toilet could save about 50 liters per person per day.
Weight it- A cistern weight converts an old single flush toilet to a manual dual flush.
Replace it- Water efficient shower roses can use 50-70% less water!
Investigate it- Call the water efficiency hotline 1800 803 772 or visit
www.waterrating.gov.au.
Making every drop count - In the laundry
WaterWise Tips
Load it- Only turn on the washing machine when it has a full load or adjust the water levels to
match the load size.
Check it- Regularly check the hoses and fittings for leaks.
Save it- Save the rinse water and use it for the next wash. Make sure you use the old rinse
water the same day.
WaterWise Products
Replace it- Washing machines with 4 blue stars use less than half the water that
conventional top loading washing machines use.
Stop it- A flood safety valve should protect your house from flooding if a house breaks or slips
off.
Plumb it- Look at having a plumber install a rainwater tank as an alternative water supply.
NOTE: The NSW Department of Health doesn’t advise rainwater for drinking when there’s an
alternative mains water supply available.

5.
Making every drop count - In the Garden
WaterWise Tips
Plan it- Try to limit lawn area and choose water efficient plants like natives and succulents.
Watering lawn uses large amounts of water.
Prepare it- Improve the soil with organic matter like compost and add some wetting crystals
to maximize the soil’s water retaining abilities.
Plant it- Group plants with similar watering needs together.
Water it- Poke your finger in the soil or look at your soil moisture probe to check if your plants
need watering.
WaterWise Products
Mulch it- To help the soil retain moisture apply a 50-100mm layer of mulch. Before mulching,
always make sure you water the soil well around all the plant.
Tank it- Install a rainwater tank as an alternative source of water for your garden.
Recycle it- Greywater recycling systems allow you to water your lawns and non-food plants
with water from your shower, laundry and bathroom sink. Check with your local Council and
Department of Health for guidelines.
Making every drop count - When you water
WaterWise Tips
Reduce it- Cut-down on lawn area with pavers and plantings that do not require watering.
Train it- To avoid a lazy lawn with shallow roots it is best to water less often. Grass will cope
better with hot dry weather if you don’t cut it too short.
Target it- A watering can or cut-off hose nozzle makes it easier to direct water where it is
most needed at the base of plants.
Time it- Water in the cool of the early morning or evening to reduce water lost to evaporation.

6. WaterWise Products
Test it- Invest in a soil moisture probe or put your finger in the soil to see if it is dry and needs
watering.
Drip it- If you want a watering system, consider installing a drip irrigation or micro-irrigation
system preferably with rain and soil moisture sensors.
Ask about it- Ask your local garden centers and irrigation installers for advice.
Automate it- Automatic controllers can water different garden zones at different times and
when used with rain and moisture sensors they know not to water when it’s raining!
Time it- Use a garden tap timer to ensure hoses are not left on by mistake.
Making every drop count - Outdoors
WaterWise Tips
Cover it- Keep swimming pools covered to reduce water loss from evaporation.
Sweep it- Sweep hard surface areas rather than hosing them.
Nozzle it- Hoses fitted with a cut-off nozzle will use less water than an unrestricted hose and
can be readily shut off when not needed.
Bucket it- Use a bucket to wash your car on the lawn and hose with a cut-off nozzle to rinse
it.
WaterWise Products
Catch it- Install a rainwater tank as an alternative water source for your garden and pool.
Divert it- Down pipe diverters or fire plugs let you divert rainwater to top up your pool.
Get smart- Look out for the Smart Approved WaterMark on water efficient products for
outdoors. Visit www.wsaa.asn.au/smartwaretmark for more information.

7. Water efficient choices
You need the right information to help make water efficient choices.
Can you work out how much you use looking at the table on the right? If you want to do a full
home water audit visit
www.makingeverydropcount.com.au
How to choose water efficient indoors…
Look out for water efficiency rating labels with the 1-6 blue stars. The more stars, the more
water and money you will save over time.
Visit www.waterrating.gov.au or call 1800 803 772 for more information.
How to choose water efficient outdoors…
Choose outdoor products with the Smart Approved WaterMark. For more information visit
www.wsaa.asn.au/smartwatermark
Area Appliance or fixture Average liters used
Bathroom
Shower Zero star shower rose 20-25 Liters per minute*
3star shower rose 7-9 liters per minute
Bath Half full 80-95 liters per minute
Toilet Single flush 12 liters per flush
Dual flush (4star) 3 liters (half flush)/4.5 liters
Brush Teeth Tap left running (full flush)
Tap turned off 10-16 liters per minute*
10 liters
Kitchen
Rinsing dishes or vegetables 10-18 liters per minute*
Dishwasher Non water efficient 25 liters per use
Water efficient 15 liters per use
Laundry
Top Loading 120+ liters per use
5 star front loading washing 38 liters per use
machine
Outdoors
Hose with no attachment 20-25 liters per minute*
Hose with cut-off nozzle 6-15 liters per minute*
Drip irrigation 4 liters per hour per dripper
Sprinkler 1000 liters per hour*
* The exact rate of water flow will depend on where you live and what pressure the what pressure
the water is when it enters you home and whether or not you have water efficient fixtures!

8. Find and fix the leaks
Leaky Tips
Look for it- Keep an eye out for dripping taps and leaking pipes. A dripping tap can waste
20,000 liters of water a year.
Fix it- If a new washer doesn’t fix a leaky tap call a plumber. The seat of the tap may need
grinding down or you may be due to buy a new water efficient tap!
Color it- Put a few drops of food coloring in your toilet cistern. If color appears in the bowl
without flushing you have a leak to find and fix.
Service it- Have your evaporative cooler serviced regularly. The valves can fail and stick
open, wasting liters of water each day.
Meter reading
Sleep on it- Your water meter can detect leaks while you sleep!
Read it- Read your water meter last thing at night and first thing in the morning before you
use any water. If the numbers have moved you have a leak to find!
Decipher it- Generally speaking the black numbers are kilolitres and the red numbers are
liters. If you need help call your Council or visit www.makingeverydropcount.com.au

9. Home WaterWise Tips
Are you really making every drop count at home and in the garden? Answer these quick
questions and add up your water drops to see how water efficient you are!
Scor
e
Do you have a water Less than 30 seconds 30 seconds - 1 minute More than 1 minute
efficient shower?
How long does it take your
shower to fill a 9 liter
bucket?
How long was your last More than 8 Minutes 4-8 minutes Less than 4 minutes
shower?
Do you turn the tap off No Yes Yes, and I use a cup
while you brush your to rinse
teeth?
Is your toilet single or dual Single flush Single flush with Dual; flush
flush? cistern weight or brick
Are your kitchen taps water Less than 8 seconds 8-12 seconds More than 12
efficient? seconds
How long does it take to fill
a 2 liter jug from your
kitchen tap?
What time of day do you During the heat of the Early morning or I don’t water
water your garden? day evening only
How do you water your Sprinkler or hose left Hand-held hose with Microirrigation or drip
garden? running cut-off nozzle irrigation system
How do you clean your With a hose With a high pressure With a broom
driveways, paths and water cleaner or hose
footpaths? with water efficient
nozzle
How do you wash your car In the street or on the On the lawn with a On the lawn with a
at home? driveway with a hose hose bucket and hose
fitted with a cut-off
nozzle
Total:

10. How did you score?
More than 20 water drops, the good news is that there are lots of things you can do to become
more water efficient! Consider installing some water efficient devices or making some changes
to your water use habits.
15-20 Water drops! Well done! You are well on your way to making every drop count! What
simple changes could you make to knock your score down to 14? Hopefully you can find some
solutions in this book!
Less than 15 water drops, congratulations! You really are making every drop count! Keep up the
good work!
Amazing water droplets!
More than two thirds of the earth’s surface is covered by water but less than 1% is fresh
water; 97% is too salty and 2% is ice.
There is no more water today than there was when life on Earth first began.
We are drinking the same water that the dinosaurs drank!
Australia is the worlds driest inhabited continent.
Water is our most precious resource because without it we would be dead!
The Namoi Catchment is approximately 42,000 square kilometers.
All the 87,000 people in the Namoi Catchment who use water can help to save this
precious resource.

11.
What is the water cycle?
Nature recycles our water again and again in a process called the water cycle. The water cycle has 3
main parts …
Evaporation – The sun’s heat causes some water in our rivers and pools to change into steam
or water vapour.
Condensation – As the water vapour in the air rises it becomes cooler and turns back into tiny
water droplets forming clouds.
Precipitation – The water drops get colder and heavier and it rains.
This Making Every Drop Count guide to saving water at home and in the garden is part of the Better
Urban Waste Use Efficiency – Education and Community Awareness Campaign of the Namoi Local
Government Group and Namoi Catchment Management Authority.

12. When you touch a tap you can choose to become a part of the solution, ensuring a sustainable water
future for us all. Even if you only make one or two changes suggested in this book or on our website
www.makingeverydroupcount.com.au, the seemingly small amount of water you save each time will
add up to millions of liters over a lifetime.
Namoi Catchment Management Authority Tel: (02) 6742 9220
Narrabri Shire Council Tel: (02) 6799 6866