Water is a precious resource that we are all responsible for using wisely. As our climate changes, so does our access to water. While the City undertakes many water management initiatives, there are many simple ways you can save water around the home.
Tips to reduce water use at home
In the garden
Approximately 40 per cent of home water usage goes to garden irrigation. Most garden plants, including lawns, are not well suited to Perth’s hot, sandy conditions, requiring excessive watering during long hot summers. To be waterwise in your home garden, follow these useful tips:
- install rain gardens, free of irrigation
- choose local native and waterwise plants
- cover garden soil with mulch or plant living mulches
- reduce lawn areas
- grow a tree for canopy cover to help retain soil moisture
- install smart efficient and/or weather-based control sprinklers
- use soil wetter and soil improvers
- reduce your sprinkler run times
- hand water
- add trees and shade plants to your garden
- sweep, don’t hose
- use your sprinklers only on your watering days and switch off your sprinklers for winter.
In the bathroom
In a typical Perth home, around a quarter of the home’s water use is in the bathroom. To reduce your bathroom water here are some useful ideas:
- install a water saving showerhead and taps
- have shorter showers
- fix leaks as soon as they are known – including dripping taps
- choose water efficient fittings and appliances.
Swimming pools and spas
Use a swimming pool blanket for your swimming pool or spa to reduce water lost by evaporation. A swimming pool blanket also keeps your pool warmer and cleaner.
Outdoor spaces
When cleaning your hardstand outdoor spaces, we recommend using a broom rather than the hose.
To clean your car, we recommend avoiding doing this on your driveaway and rather moving it onto your lawn so it can infiltrate into the soil or preferably, use a bucket of water rather than the hose or alternatively visit a car wash that will more efficiently wash your car, collect and recycle the water.
Also be mindful that modern high pressure water cleaners or pressure washers use 6-7 litres of water per minute. While a standard garden hose uses 25 litres per minute. The high pressure, low flow rate, is a much more efficient use of water when it is needed for specific purposes.
Alternative water sources
Greywater and rainwater systems offer sustainable water sources, collecting bathroom and laundry water as well as rainwater for indoor and outdoor use, reducing reliance on traditional water sources like scheme and ground water. To find out more, please visit the wastewater systems page.
More water saving tips
For more tips on saving water in the home, garden or business, visit Water Corporation Waterwise page.