How can I help stop the drop?

Check out Living Water Smart video on why we all should be water smart.

How many buckets of water can you save to help stop the drop?

Living Water Smart has lot of tips and tricks on how we can help stop the drop, such as:

• how to find and fix leaks
• the garden
• in the home and
• living on a rural block.

If renting, always contact your landlord or property manager and/or check on responsibilities under your rental contract before considering any works.

Use an easy 3 step check list to help find and fix water leaks in your home.

Simple leaks can be easy to fix yourself, if you learn how.

There are a number of 'how to' videos that you can find online.

If you prefer to have someone fix the leak, Living Water Smart has a list of plumbers (partners) and registered irrigators that can help you.

About 60% of our household water is used on the garden. So what can you do to help reduce your garden's water use?

Irrigation

Start watering your garden with the right amount. Over irrigating is a big contributor to our water use and it doesn't do our garden any favours.

You can start to use the 3, 2, 1 rule for irrigating during the dry:

• water your lawn three times a week
• water your garden twice a week
• water your natives just once a week.

Adjust your irrigation settings for the different seasons. Turn it off in the wet and manage it during the dry.

Check your sprinklers and irrigation regularly:

• common irrigation issues and how to fix them
• access the 'Get a free garden tune up' rebate
• more about your irrigation system
• review the programs set in your irrigation controller.

If you are renting a property and you find an irrigation leak, check out information on Living Water Smart.

If you prefer to have someone fix a leak here is a list of registered irrigators who can help you.

For more tips on irrigation go to Living Water Smart.

Plants and garden design

Choosing to use water wise plants makes sense.

When an opportunity presents itself, reviewing your garden design can assist greatly with your water saving goals.

Take the time to select the right plants for your garden and climate.

You can improve your soil condition by using:

• mulch – it is good for your plant's health and increases moisture retention within the soil
• organic fetilisers
• wetting agents.

Some more tips for a water wise garden

Here are some more simple actions you can take in your garden to save water:

• learn about your plant's water needs
• remove weeds
• water your lawn when it needs.

Check out how you can make your garden more water wise and read our tips on saving water fact sheet PDF (830.6 KB).

Living Water Smart has 10 easy ways that we can save water in the home, covering:

1. drinking water
2. cooking
3. shower versus bath
4. toilets
5. dishwasher
6. washing up
7. fix leaky taps
8. hot water systems
9. garbage disposal units
10. fish tanks.

Some more tips for a water wise home

Change your water use behaviour in your home by:

• having shorter showers
• only running full loads in the dishwasher and washing machine
• using the half-flush on the toilet
• covering the pool when not in use
• turning off the tap when brushing teeth or shaving
• fixing leaking taps
• use water efficient household appliances PDF (496.6 KB) (you can view the Australian water ratings).

Check out how you can do this and read our tips on saving water fact sheet PDF (830.6 KB).

Have a pool?

If you have a pool, reducing the amount you 'top up' the pool will help conserve water and save money on your water bill.

The use of pool covers:

• reduces evaporation by 90 to 95%
• reduces cleaning time by preventing debris falling into the pool
• reduces the amount of chemicals needed to keep it clean.

A great advantage of living rural is the surrounding environment. Beautiful bush blocks with nature so close to your living space.

Climate variability in the Darwin region means we are never sure how much rain we get from year to year. Having a sustainable supply of water is crucial to maintaining your great rural lifestyle.

Living Water Smart has plenty of tips and information to help you save water.

Check out the 'Know your bore' tool to understand more about your bore, the water resource you are accessing and whether you are at risk of your bore possibly becoming unserviceable.

Diversifying your water supply

Now is the time to consider diversifying your water supply and storage options, not just for this dry season, but for dry seasons to come.

Rural residents may consider some of the following options:

• harvest rainwater by installing rainwater tanks PDF (2.4 MB) (a great way to capture and store water for use in the house or garden)
• install a smaller yielding pump PDF (1.5 MB) into your bore
• bores may need to be rehabilitated, drilled deeper or replaced PDF (974.0 KB) by one that taps into another aquifer
• in the very short term, water carting suppliers (see following) and options for emergencies should be considered.

Water carting suppliers

The following businesses have given permission for their details to be listed here.

Living Water Smart is a Power and Water Corporation initiative to help the Darwin region reduce water use.

Many people think that Darwin has an endless supply of water, but this is a myth. We are currently using more water than can be captured and supplied in the long term.

Living Water Smart aims to help Darwin become smarter with its water use ensuring that we become a strong and resilient city with an enhanced reputation nationally and internationally.

Living Water Smart has a lot of great information and tips on how we can all be more water wise.

Contact Water Resources Division on 08 8999 4455 or send an email to waterresources@nt.gov.au