Summer 101 - Water Use

Home lawns are usually the single largest user of water in the home. 

You can take steps to reduce their water demand at all times: 

1. Lawn establishment  

2. Irrigation  

3. Lawn maintenance 

1. Lawn establishment

• Try to keep lawn establishment to spring and autumn. This is the time of year when nature does all the hard work.  

• Initially you will need to water more often and less volume. As your lawn establishes, the time between watering grows and the amount of water increases. 

• Consider Fescues when selecting a variety of grass. They will be more drought resistant and better able to cope with peak temperatures we experience in the region, while still offering a fantastic surface to walk on. 

2. Irrigation

• Irrigation tends to be a more efficient use of water than a hand hose. 

• Give plants a chance to dry out between watering. 

• Direct water to the root zone of the plant. 

• If you see water running, that’s a sign that you are applying too much water!  

• Water your lawn in the early hours of the morning or late evening to reduce water loss via evaporation. Set your automated watering system to irrigate at a time between 10.00pm and 6.00am. 

• Did you know a sprinkler uses around 17 litres of water every single minute? That means if you run your sprinkler for an hour each day, that's over 1,000 litres of water gone in a flash! By shortening how long you use your sprinkler, you can make a massive difference to how much water we save this summer!

3. Lawn maintenance

• Cut your lawn a little higher during the warmer months. This will reduce the demand for water and help it withstand higher temperatures. 

• Cut more frequently and without a catcher. This allows the grass clippings to break down, allowing nutrients to be recycled as they return to the soil profile. 

• Cut your lawns in the evening or avoid the hotter parts of the day as cutting the plant naturally causes heat stress. 

1. In the bathroom

• Turn the tap off when brushing your teeth to save around 12 litres of water per day 

• Use a plug in your basin when shaving rather than running the water or shaving in the shower 

• Cut your shower time and save up to 20 litres of water for every minute saved. 

• Install a water efficient showerhead – Using less hot water also means you’ll save on energy bills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

2. In the kitchen

• Chill water in the fridge for drinking instead of running the tap until it cools on a hot summer’s day.  

• Skip the pre-rinse if you have a modern dishwasher, just a scrape of your plates and cutlery before they go in the machine should do. 

• Wash veges in a pot of water rather than running the tap – then you can use that water for pot plants or the garden.