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  5. Outdoor water-wise tips

Water is a precious resource. It is important that we use it carefully.

Being water wise is not only good for the environment, it will also help you to make some savings on your water bill.

We might have to come to love a browner lawn as we approach a dry summer. 

Value every drop by following our outdoor water-saving tips below:

Feedback and Complaints Email us an outdoor tip you would like to share with us, or send us a photo of your hardy drought-tolerant garden that you are proud of. 

In the garden

  • Water gardens and lawns in the morning and evening when it is cooler.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plant and lawn species.
  • Use good-quality soil with plenty of organic matter.
  • Mulch and compost your garden regularly. Good mulches, including sugar cane, wood chips, gravel and stone, increase water absorption and the moisture content of soil.
  • Water deeply and less frequently to encourage plants and lawn to grow deeper roots and be more resilient to dry times. Twice a week should be sufficient if you have a well-mulched garden, suitable soil and established plants.
  • Pull out weeds, as they compete with your garden plants for moisture and nutrients.
  • Leave your lawn long (2.5cm). This will help retain moisture in the soil and encourage deeper root growth.
  • Only water when you really need to. If rain is forecast, let Mother Nature attend to it for you.
  • Consider other sources of water such as a rainwater tank or your laundry greywater. 

Around the home

  • Use a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways and footpaths.
  • Use a bucket of soapy water to wash your car rather than using the hose. If you do use a hose, attach a trigger nozzle so you can control the flow. 
  • Wash your car on the grass allowing runoff water to water your lawn.

Around the pool

  • Use a pool cover to reduce evaporation
  • Install a shade cloth over the pool to help reduce evaporation
  • Install a rainwater tank or downpipe diverter to top-up your pool instead of using town water
  • Check for leaks around the pool (see below for instructions on how to check your pool for leaks)
  • Plant some bushes around the pool to protect it from wind, which causes evaporation
  • Use our handy pool and spa fill guide to estimate how much it will cost to fill or top up your pool or spa.

Check your swimming pool for leaks

Unfortunately, lots of people get caught out with increased water bills because of pool leaks. With swimming pool leaks being your responsibility, here are a few tips to help you check your pool for leaks:

  • Check for bubbles in the return lines when the pool pump is running. If there are bubbles, there may be a leak in the suction side of the filtration system. Check to ensure the pump basket lid is on tight and the lid O-ring is lubricated and in good condition.
  • If your pool is losing water while the pump is running, check the waste or backwash line for running water. The leak may be on the return-line side of the system.
  • Skimmer leaks are the most common leak in the pool and are caused by a separation between the plastic skimmer and the concrete pool. This leak looks like a crack, gap or tear and is easily repaired by pool putty.

Check for leaks on the shell of the pool, inserts into the pool walls (e.g. lights), wall interfaces (e.g. tile line) and in the pump and filter equipment.

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