Are You Using Too Much Water?

Tips from MJ Walker Plumbing Water

Most Aussies are lucky enough to have access to basic utilities such as water and electricity for everyday living. We have become accustomed to viewing utilities as commodities. Which we pay for, or which are simply provided to us. Unfortunately, people often end up taking utilities such as electricity and water for granted, and assume that we will always have access to them, until that utility is taken away or we get the dreaded water bill.

While water is a natural resource, it may not always be plentiful, and our population is ever increasing, so as a nation, we need to become more water wise. Much of Australia is familiar with drought and many Aussies have lived through times when water has been sparse and water usage limitations have been imposed. Those of us with larger families or lower incomes know all too well that water costs are rising and that we need to be more frugal with our water usage.

MJ Walker Plumbing Gold Coast knows when it comes to valuing water and having a no-waste mentality, there are two things we need to consider

1. The long-term availability of water, and
2. The cost of water provision and usage.

When water is sparse, or with inflation, we do pay more and more for water as we do with other utilities. As prices rise and our families get bigger, we become increasingly aware of the costs associated with water provision. Not only do we become more concerned with how much water we use, but if we are paying the water bill ourselves, we are also likely to be more water wise and conscious of water consumption.

Unfortunately, often household water wastage adds up quickly without our even realising it. MJ Walker Plumbing have put together this blog to help you learn some easy ways to conserve water and save money in your home.

MJ Walker Plumbing Gold Coast Water Saving Tips

1. Car Washing
2. Swimming Pool Maintenance
3. Bathroom, Laundry and Kitchen
4. Garden and Backyard

WATER SAVING TIPS FOR CAR WASH TIME

How many times have you seen people washing their cars in their driveway?

Where does the water go when it runs off the car?

In the drain of course. Our drains are filled every day with soaps and many other household pollutants which all have a negative effect on our environment. In most cases, the car wash solution we use at home is fine for gardens, lawns and plants, so our number one water saving tip for when you decide to wash your car at home is

• Wash your car, bikes and boats on the lawn or grass.

When you wash on the grass, the excess water will soak into surrounding lawns and gardens and save you water, time and hassle when your garden or lawn next needs a drink.

For those of you who prefer to use automated car washes, you can enquire as to whether your chosen car wash recycles their water or whether used water is simply drained away. Most, but not all car wash services do recycle their water now, but it pays to find out. It just makes sense in a world where water is precious, to save it when we can. If your local car wash doesn’t recycle water – find one that does and you’ll be doing your part for water conservation.

SWIMMING POOL WATER SAVING TIPS

This tip  from MJ Walker Plumbing Gold Coast is short and sweet, but is often overlooked. Many Aussies are lucky enough to have a pool to take the edge off the summer heat. Unfortunately, many of these pools are kept uncovered, regardless of whether they are used. Anyone with a pool to maintain knows that they require regular topping up to maintain the right water level and chemical balance. Pools hold a huge amount of water, so topping up may mean adding a significant amount of water to your family pool regularly. This also means paying for excess water usage. Pool water evaporates and the level of evaporation in a pool increases during the day.

The best solution for evaporation reduction and decreasing your water usage when it comes to pools is simply:

• Cover your pool whenever it is not in use.

MJ Walker Plumbing Gold Coast know a pool cover reduces the amount of evaporation your pool will experience and will result in your having to top the pool up less often, saving you time and money.

BATHROOM, LAUNDRY AND KITCHEN WATER SAVING

There are many ways you can reduce your water usage at home in the kitchen, bathroom and laundry. Here are just a few ways to save your water and money from MJ Walker Plumbing Gold Coast

• Wash food and dishes in a sink of water, rather than under a running tap.
• Turn the tap off while you brush your teeth.
• Do not leave taps running while you are cooking or multitasking in the kitchen.
• Use a microwave, fridge or natural warmth to defrost food, rather than defrosting in warm water.
• Install a double flush system on your toilet, and use the half flush option instead of full flush.
• Do not flush your toilet every time you urinate. If you clean your toilet regularly, some find there is no harm in flushing every second time.
• Install timers to ensure shorter showers (during water restrictions 3-minute showers are recommended)
• Install water saving shower heads with higher pressure and lower water usage.
• Where possible, take shorter showers, rather than filling a bath.
• Fix dripping taps and toilets. Dripping taps and leaky toilets lose water persistently and this water loss adds up. Talk to the professionals at MJ Walker today to fix your leaks and drips.
• Recycle your grey water (water from showers, laundry and kitchen use) for gardens and lawns.

SAVING WATER OUTDOORS AT HOME

• Install rainwater tanks for garden and lawn usage.
• Recycle grey water to keep garden and lawns looking green.
• Choose wisely when you water gardens and lawn, avoiding watering in the heat of the day, during rain and avoid excessive water usage.

Water evaporation is always greatest during the warmer hours of the day, so watering your gardens and lawns is most efficient in the early morning or later evening.

Many people get into a watering routine when it comes to gardens. We know that you like your gardens to look great, but it Mother Nature sometimes saves you the time by offering rain. When it is going to rain or has been raining, your gardens will retain some of that rainwater, so this is the perfect time to forget your usual routine and forget the watering.

• Minimise water wastage from sprinklers and hoses by installing drip systems for watering gardens and lawns and ensure sprinklers do not spray driveways, house or other non-garden areas.
• Keep watering to a minimum. Overwatering wastes water, time and money.

If you’d like to know more about how you can save water, time and money, or to get that leaky toilet or tap fixed – contact the team at MJ Walker and we’ll be glad to help.