Please
follow these 33 tips to save money, protect our
environment and use a critical resource responsibly,
now and in the future. |
| 1. |
Avoid
using a hose as far as possible. |
| 2. |
Wash
your car or motorcycle less often. Wipe dirt off with
a damp cloth instead. |
| 3. |
When
you need to wash your car or motorcycle with water,
try using a bucket and a piece of cloth or sponge. |
| 4. |
When
you cannot avoid using a hose, install a turn-off
nozzle on the end of the hose to adjust the water
flow and turn the water off and on. |
| 5. |
Replace
all hoses which are leaking immediately. |
| 6. |
Water
your plants with a watering can. |
| 7. |
Water
from your fish tank and water which is used to clean
food can be re-cycled to water plants. |
 |
8. |
Water
your plants at the roots, not the leaves or
flowers. |
| 9. |
Water
your plants in the morning or evening, when
there is less evaporation. |
|
| 10. |
Clean
your porch and driveway with a broom and dust
pan. |
|
| 11. |
When
cleaning your home, mop the floor instead of
splashing water. |
| 12. |
Never
leave the tap running. |
| 13. |
Turn
the tap off when soaping, brushing your teeth
or shaving. Only turn it on when rinsing your
hands or face. |
|
| 14. |
When
bathing, turn off the tap when soaping your body or
applying shampoo. Better still, take shorter showers. |
| 15. |
When
bathing your children or pets, only fill the tub with
as much water as needed. |
| 16. |
Make
sure all taps are shut properly after use. |
 |
| 17. |
Teach
your children to shut taps properly. |
| 18. |
Fill
your sink to wash and rinse food. |
| 19. |
Fill
your sink to wash your dishes and cutleries. |
| 20. |
Use
a microwave oven to defrost frozen food instead of
running water. You can also de-frost food “naturally”
by leaving it outside the refrigerator for awhile. |
 |
21. |
Do
not leave the water running when washing clothes
by hand. Fill buckets for washing and rinsing.
|
| 22. |
If
you can afford it, a new energy-efficient washing
machine can save water, and cut down on your
water and electricity bills. |
| 23. |
When
using a washing machine, try to wash only when
there is a full load. |
|
| 24. |
If
you have to use your washing machine with a smaller
load, set a lower water level as required. |
| 25. |
Pre-soak
dirty clothes with stubborn stains before washing
to avoid repeated washings. |
| 26. |
If
your clothes are not so dirty, set a shorter washing
cycle. |
| 27. |
The
latest “dual flush” toilet systems can save up to
10 litres per flush compared to older systems. Usually
a half flush (3-4 litres) will do the job. |
| 28. |
Don’t
use the toilet to flush tissues or rubbish. Put it
in the rubbish bin. |
| 29. |
Check
your toilet system for leaks. Pour some food dye into
the tank and leave it for 15 minutes. If the water
in the bowl is coloured, repair or replace the flush
system. |
| 30. |
Install
aerators on all your faucets to reduce water flow. |
|
| 31. |
Check
all your taps and pipes for leaks regularly. |
| 32. |
Repair
all leaks immediately. If a tap is leaking at one
drop per second, it will leak 10,218 litres per year. |
| 33. |
Please
call 04-509 6 509 to report leaks
at roadside mains or pipes. |