Australians are being encouraged to care for water and Country this National Water Week (18-24 October), as the Australian Water Association (AWA) highlights the importance our water plays in our lives.
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In particular, AWA wants this year's theme, "Caring for water and Country", to deepen our understanding of Australian First Nations people's knowledge of protecting and sustaining our water and lands for more than 65,000 years.
"As we look to solving the modern challenges we face in water sustainability, it is more important than ever that we explore the historical and cultural role of First Australian people in caring for water and Country for tens of thousands of years," said Corinne Cheeseman, CEO of the AWA.
"With extremes caused by climate change, it is important for us all to play an active role in caring for water and Country, and for each of us to use water sustainably."
According to Nylex, on average, approximately 40 per cent of household water is used outdoors, so it's important to reuse and recycle this commodity as much as possible.
Nylex product manager Alyce Rigby says there are two ways to manage water usage better. The first is using recycled water, which is either taken from rain tanks or has been cleaned with chemicals at a treatment plant before being provided back to homeowners. The second is the use of grey water, wastewater that's taken directly from showers, bathroom sinks or washing machines in the home to use in gardens and lawns.
To help homeowners do their bit at home, Nylex has launched new products into its range of lilac recycled water hoses, sprinklers and timers, which are ergonomically designed and UV treated to survive the Australian outdoors. While the range's lilac colour helps homeowners identify them for use with recycled water, they are also suitable for use with mains water if required.
Below are Alyce's tips for being water wise not just during National Water Week, but all year round.
Utilise grey water
Reducing freshwater usage around the home not only saves vital community water supplies, it can also decrease household water bills. Purpose made hoses can be connected to washing machines and other outlet pipes to redirect grey water to your lawn as well as garden beds and veggie patches.
Before using grey water in your garden, check what type of washing liquid or powder you use, as some chemicals will be harmful to plants.
Water smarter, not harder
Be smart with how you set up and water your garden. Planting water-intensive plants on higher ground and plants that don't need as much water on lower ground means you can water from the top and simply let it flow down to the less water-intensive plants below.
Water efficiently
It's important to make sure your sprinklers and irrigation systems are water efficient to ensure you're not over-watering your garden and wasting water.
"An easy way to be water-efficient is by using the Nylex recycled water circular sprinkler (pictured), which is suitable for small to medium lawns and gardens," says Alyce. "The adjustable arms and rotating sprinkler head create even water distribution and work well for slightly windy conditions."
Save time
An easy way to save time while conserving water is by using a tap timer. Once set to a specific length of time, it can be left unattended and will automatically turn off, so you can get on with your day without accidentally overwatering your lawn.