Cutting down on Water Usage in Your Home

Saving water inside the house

Most famous way is to shower instead of having a bath.
Load your dishwasher with the "not so dirty" items first and set on a shorter cycle.
Soak really dirty items of clothing overnight and then wash by hand.Then put in washing machine on a shorter cycle
Use bath water to clean outside patio and patio furniture.

By the way a really good way to get access to this dirty water is by having a big drum outside which your pipe diverts to.This drum should only be for collecting the used water from washing machines,dishwashers,baths.You can then have a hose pipe attached directly which you can then use for all the outside cleaning jobs.

If you want to be really extreme and you know that your teenagers are using a lot of water in the bath then you can have the water fill up mark of your bath lowered a bit but this is extreme.Instead involve the kids and let them know how much the water account is and how much is used every month.Provide incentives to them to ensure the whole family is involved in saving water.Going over the account at the end of the month and emphasising improvements on water usage is a great way to do this.

Cutting down water usage in the Garden

Step One: Ensure that you use good soil that holds water well. Take the time to build soil amendments into it. A cheap method is to buy soil compost in bulk. It will be less expensive in the long run. If your soil is suitable you can add compost separately.

If your soil is not that good you can improve this by using several different mulches or composts. A good one is earth worm castings. You can find this in bulk at garden centers. This is natural, does not burn your plants and is chemical free. Work this well into the soil.

Step Two: Start your own compost bin. They are easy to make and really worth the time. You can use mesh wire in a barrel form, a wooden framed box, bins or you can buy them from local garden centers. You will find several options to building a compost bin online.

Step Three: Start by planting your vegetables so water can be maintained rather than run off the sides. If using row planting, make sure you prop up the aisles enough to hold water in between the rows. During the course of the season, these ailes will get worn down.Re build your rows and make sure you always have them in a condition to hold water. If you plant in containers, leave at least 2" at the top for water to stand so it soaks into the container. A common mistake is to fill the pot to the top with soil.

Step Four: How much water do you actually need to use? Each plant is different. A basic rule is to feel the soil . Observe that the soil is just starting to get dry before you water. If the weather is hotter you will be watering more. When you water make sure to water deeply. It is better to soak the soil than to sprinkle or lightly water. Check your plant requirements according to the package.

Step Five: Use a drip irrigation system. This is probably one of the most important methods you can use to save water. Sprinklers lose water to the air, wind and run off. Local garden centers and home stores usually have some sort of drip system. They will be able to show you how to install and use them. These systems are really very easy to set up. Begin by making a scaled plan of your garden. Measure the size and how many rows you will have. Take the plan to the garden center and let them help you figure out the components.

Step Six: Consider using water generated from your baths, dishwasher, laundry, etc. It is one of the most wasted sources of water.This "gray" water contains phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen, all of which benefit plants. These chemicals are found in organic soaps and shampoos. Check the labels on the products you use for the above and make sure you purchase natural or organic products. Avoid products that contain toxic chemicals and bleaches. This will ensure this gray water is safe for your plants.

If you notice that your plants are suffering damage from the gray water, stop using it and consult a horticulturist or gardener.

Most important
Try and install a drum outside which catches rain water.Your plumber can easily divert the pipes so you can use this water for inside the house or for your garden.