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updated: 20/09/07 |
Under increasing water restrictions on the Central Coast external use of the town water supply may be banned. Therefore it is important that we learn to use water efficiently in and around our homes.
Contact your local council for more information on current restrictions.
Washing your Car or Boat
Under water restrictions you may not be able to wash your car or boat with the town water supply.
You should consider the use of alternate water supplies such as rainwater tanks, bore water and grey water re-use systems.
Water Saving Washing Tips
- Park your car/boat on your lawn or a suitable grassy area to minimise runoff.
- Use a bucket to save water and dry using a chamois.
- Use detergents and soaps sparingly. Better still, just use plain water and a little elbow grease.
- Dispose of wastewater onto a garden or lawn.
- Only wash your car/boat when absolutely necessary.
- Consider using a water recycling car wash venue.
Cleaning Hard Surfaces such as Paths, Driveways and Windows
- Clean footpaths and driveways with a broom. Using a hose to clean external surfaces may be restricted and can waste up to 30 litres of water a minute.
- Clean cobwebs from roof area with a broom.
Using a Rainwater Tank
- A rainwater tank can help you save water from the town supply.
- The tank can be used for garden watering, topping up pools, washing cars and boats, and even topping up ornamental ponds.
- By buying a rainwater tank, you can receive money back from your local Council (contact Council for more details).
- If your tank is connected internally and topped up directly from the town water supply, you will still need to comply with local water restrictions.
- Talk to your local expert about installing a tank.
How to check if you have a hidden leak:
Do you have high water bills you cannot explain, or a patch of grass that is always wet or very green despite the weather or infrequent watering?
Leaking water in your home may not always be in an obvious place. For example, you may have a leak in your pipes.
A leaking pipe can waste around 95,000 litres of water a month, that’s enough to do 500 loads of laundry.
To see if you have a leak, follow these four simple steps:
- Locate your water meter, usually in the front yard or at the side of the house. They are above ground with a metal or plastic lid.
- Choose a day when no-one is at home for a couple of hours, i.e. when everyone is at work or on a family outing.
- Ask the last person leaving the house to check the water meter and record the current level of water use, making sure no appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers have been left running. The meter reads from left to right – black digits show the kilolitres (1,000 litres) and the red digits show the number of single litres used.
- Then ask the first person to return home to do the same.
If the numbers have changed, you will most likely have a leak. The severity of the leak can be determined by how much water has been used while you were gone.
If you notice a change, contact a local plumber for their advice. Reading your meter reader regularly will show how much water you use and help detect leakages early.
Click here to download a copy of the info sheet above in Adobe Acrobat format (.pdf). You need to download a free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader to read the document.
