Dr Jacobs announced last week that because of virtually no run off into the dams during winter, Perth, the South-West and the Lower Great Southern would be on a one-day-a-week roster from October 1 until November 30.
The tightening of the roster from two-days-a-week applies only to users of the Integrated Water Supply Scheme (IWSS). Bore owners are permitted to use their bores for three-days-a-week. Hand watering of gardens and lawns is still allowed.
"I ask that everyone be sensible with their water use through the rest of spring and on into summer to help us manage our water supplies through a quite extraordinary time," the Minister said.
"The community showed fantastic support for the winter sprinkler ban and I now ask that everyone shows similar support during a time when we have just come through our second -driest winter on record, continuing dry weather through September and the lowest run off into the dams since 1913."
Here are 10 tips on how you can be waterwise in your home.
1. Verify that your home is leak-free; read your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, there is a leak.
Approximately 5 billion litres of water is lost each year through residential leaks. This is equivalent to 500 million buckets! Recent research indicates that 17% of households in the metro area could have an undetected continuous leak.
2. Only put the washing machine on when you have a full load.
If you reduce your washing by one load per week, you will save approximately 70 litres (or 7 buckets) of water per load.
3.Install a water efficient shower head (WELS rated 3 star or above).
This will save you approximately 3 litres of water a minute.
4. There is no need to leave the tap running while you brush. Simply wet our toothbrush before you begin and use a glass of water to rinse your mouth.
Running water while brushing our teeth for two minutes each day = approximately 7,000 litres (or 700 buckets) a year. Using a cup (250ml) of water while brushing your teeth = approximately 180 litres (or 18 buckets) a year.
5. Installing flow regulators on taps can help to save water by taking the place of regular tap washers and allowing water to flow at predetermined rates.
These could save up to 50% of the water you use and they provide softer water with less splashing.
6. The toilet uses 24% of water inside the home.
By replacing a standard single flush toilet with a dual flush system, a household could use 75% less water. Single flush toilet = approximately 44,000 litres (or 4400 buckets) a year.
Dual flush toilet = approximately 11,000 litres (or 1100 buckets) a year.
7. A leaking toilet can be extremely wasteful. To check your cistern, place a few drops of food colouring in the tank. Without flushing it, look for colouring in the toilet bowl. If it’s getting through, you’ve got a leak, and it’s time to call a Waterwise Plumber.
Stopping a leaking toilet saves approximately 9,000 litres (or 900 buckets) a year.
8. The way to save water is to operate your dishwasher only when it’s full. When buying a new dishwasher, look for a 4 ‘Star’ rated model which uses as little as 15 litres per wash.
Older model dishwasher (40 litres per wash per day) = approximately 14,000 litres (or 1400 buckets) a year. ‘Star’ rated dishwasher (15 litres per wash per day) = approximately 5,000 litres (or 500 buckets) a year.
9. Install a greywater re-use system
Greywater re-use systems are another way you can use water efficiently by irrigating your garden with greywater – which comes from places such as the bath, shower and washing machine – instead of precious drinking water.
10. Don’t let water run while shaving or washing your face. Brush your teeth first while waiting for the water to get hot, then wash or shave after filling the basin.
Running water for two minutes each day = approximately 7,000 litres (or 700 buckets) a year.
for more go to http://www.watercorporation.com.au/
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