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Tips on How To Manage your Water Well in Times of Water Shortage
Tips — How to Conserve Water
- Filling wells with surface water, or potable water is not recommended. Installing a holding tank that links to a household system, and filling that with potable water is a better option.
- Removing water from streams and lakes for watering lawns or gardens may cause problems for other users.
In the yard
- Brown grass is only dormant, not dead. Grass only needs 25 mm of water each week to do well, any more can weaken the roots.
- 20 L (5 gal) of water once a week will help trees survive dry conditions.
- Don't water lawns and gardens when a municipal water shortage warning is in effect.
- If you must water, only water gardens and lawns once a week, no more than one inch in total, including rain.
- Avoid watering on windy days and water your lawn and plants in the morning — evaporation occurs at a slower rate than if you watered in the hot sun.
- Cut grass less frequently and cut grass higher as it reduces evaporation and increases moisture.
- Collect and use rainwater for your lawn and gardens — it's free and better for your plants than municipally supplied water or well water. Consider buying a rain barrel.
- Plant drought resistant plants — convert your lawns to low-care perennials.
Your car
- Don't wash your car when a municipal water shortage warning is in effect.
- Use commercial car washes that recycle their water.
- If you do wash your car, do it on the lawn. Use a bucket of soapy water and the bare minimum to rinse it off.
In the kitchen
- Rinse fruits and vegetables by putting a little water in the sink or a bowl instead of running water.
- When hand washing dishes, plug the drain and do them all at once.
- Run the dishwasher with full loads only.
- Defrost frozen foods in the refrigerator or the microwave, not under running water.
- For cold water to drink, keep a jug in the fridge instead of running the tap.
In the bathroom
- Install a low-flush toilet or install a toilet dam in your toilet tank to reduce water use.
- Keep showers to five minutes or less.
- Consider buying a water efficient showerhead.
- If you must take a bath, fill the tub with only the amount of water really needed to clean yourself (1/4 full).
- When cleaning your teeth, don’t keep the tap running, use a glass to rinse. Rinsing a toothbrush under a tap wastes about 4,000 litres of water a year.
- Replace all leaky tap washers, they can waste more than 400 litres of water a day. Repair all leaks in pipes and toilets as well.
Laundry
- Wash clothes only when you have a full load.
