Megan Kieffer, Hazendal
We have tried very hard to conserve water and have been opting for quick showers instead of a bath.
All water from the kitchen and bathroom have been re-routed to the garden and since we have pets, all water from the washing machine is used for cleaning the front and backyard. Be water-wise.
Chevonne October, Athlone
I have recently started with my own garden. It is still very small. I usually fetch water at the springs in Newlands and use it in my garden as well.
I also use the water that I do my dishes with to water my plants.
Cecelia Daniels, Bonteheuwel
The water from the washing machine and washing the dishes can be carried in a bucket to water the garden. The bloody water from washing meat can be used for the plants.
I also attached water bottles to my gutters and use it for my container houseplants under my shed and my grandchildren are rinsing their mouths with a glass of water after brushing their teeth.
Gerald Adams, Heideveld
For weeks now I have had a 25-litre plastic bucket in the shower. I catch the excess water and pour it onto the lawn.
Ayesha Bloomberg, Bridgetown
To save water I keep a bucket under my bath tap so when we wash our hands, etc, all excess water falls straight in the bucket, and that’s the water I use to wet my garden without using a hose pipe.
Nurjahan Hartley, Bridgetown
I have recently developed a great interest in gardening. Mine is a little organic container garden of mint, cherry tomatoes and recently sown mixed herbs and marigolds.
To practice water-wise and organic gardening, I have a twofold strategy that addresses watering and pest control issues:
* Firstly, while my family and I shower, we have a clean bucket that catches stray water droplets that would otherwise just go down the drain. This water is used for watering our small garden. I also use mulch to prevent the soil from drying too fast on hot days.
* Secondly, I no longer wash the leaves of my plants with pest control soap to get rid of aphids, etc. Instead, I use companion planting to ward off any harmful insects thus saving more water.
Winston Barrish, Crawford
Run the washing machine water into the wheelie bin.
Take a garden hose, tie a heavy object to one end and lower it to the bottom of the bin (there should be water in the hose) hold the other end of the hose at same height of the bin, take the hose to where you want the water to be, put it down the water will flow. You can also make a watering can from a used oil can. Once the can is clean make a cut out below the top handle, cut a hole in the screw cap where water will flow out fast or slow depending whether you keep the cap on of off.
Also, the water from the geyser takes a while before the warm water gets through. I run the water that’s in the pipe into a 2l jug and use it in the kettle. The kitchen tap is the most used by all, so slow the flow at the stop cog.
Howard Smith, Bonteheuwel
These are a few of my water-wise tips that I use on a daily basis, to assist with being water-wise.
The rain water from the gutter goes into 200l drums. I fill 20l drums with water from here and use it for the washing machine’s rinse and spin cycles.
All these extra savings in water I use to water my garden, including my chilli and cocktail tomato garden.
Vasigery Archary, Gatesville
Collect water while washing the dishes and rinsing veggies and meat and use it to water plants.
Divert the washing machine water to the garden.
There is something in the washing powder that does wonders for the plants. When we lived in Durban and were experiencing droughts and water restrictions, I used to throw the washing machine water on the plants and they grew so beautifully.
Owen Kriel, Athlone
Make a home-made sprinkler which you can use to involve younger kids in the home.
Take a two-litre cool drink bottle and poke small holes in it.
Collect all boiled water that has cooled from kettles.
Let each child hold and spin the bottle over the lawn or herb patch or over flowering plants.
Every child can have a turn in the morning or evening to get their botanical clock in shape by gently watering saplings or seedlings that they have started growing, such as beans, etc.
Also water an organic mulch area (old leaves, potato peels, etc) to create a compost-rich home for earthworms. Kids love to understand the value of insects and plants and what becomes useful or not.