Theme 4: Taking Action

Topic: At Home

Wise water use

Fresh water is a precious resource, and we all need to use water more wisely - starting at home.

Australia is the driest inhabited continent on earth - but per capita, we are one of the world's largest consumers of water. Taking into account all uses of fresh water - including irrigation of crops - we use more than 1 million litres of water, per capita, per year.

We all use water differently, but studies have shown the following water usage in an average suburban South Australian home:

• Garden and outdoor - 40%
• Bath and shower - 20%
• Laundry - 16%
• Kitchen - 11%
• Toilet - 11%
• Other - 2%.

Simple tips for saving water

• Wash the car with a bucket.
• Group plants with similar water needs.
• Only run the washing machine and dishwasher when there is a full load.
• Don't leave the tap running while cleaning your teeth.
• Use a dual flush toilet system.
• Use a broom to sweep down paved areas and driveways rather than a hose.
• Cover swimming pools and spas to reduce water loss through evaporation.

There is a lot more that you can do, so why not review all of the resources on this website?

Protecting water quality

Remember - stormwater is not treated, so make sure pollutants do not enter the stormwater system from your home or your street.

See the topic titled, Stormwater and Sewage to find out what more you can do to help improve our water quality.

Sustainable Gardens

There are also many actions that can be taken in our gardens to protect biodiversity and prevent weed invasion. If you live on a farm or large rural property there is also plenty you can do to protect natural resources and enhance biodiversity.

Following are a few tips for sustainable garden design:

• Design - Design your garden for local conditions. Your location, soil and climate (including rainfall, wind and sunlight) are critical factors to consider when designing your garden.
• Plant selection - Select plants that, once established, can survive on natural rainfall and require little or no artificial watering. It is also important to select plants that will not escape and become environmental weeds. Ideally, include local indigenous plants in your garden.
• Water use - A sustainable garden uses very little water. Mulch reduces evaporation and keeps moisture in the soil. Plants with similar water needs should be grouped together. If you need to water, use best-practice irrigation methods including utilising recycled water or tank water. Soil moisture probes are also helpful.
• Habitat - Is there a habitat in your garden for local, native fauna? Groundcover and understorey plants provide food and shelter for small birds, small reptiles, butterflies and other insects. A wet area such as a pond encourages frogs, while natural leaf litter, twigs, and small rocks provide excellent habitats for skinks and geckos.
• Use of chemicals - Think carefully when using chemicals in your garden. Keep pesticides and herbicides to a minimum as they destroy natural insect populations that provide an essential food source for birds, frogs, lizards and bats. Over-using chemicals also harms local waterways.

Sustainable living - much more!

Living sustainably starts at home. We also need to consider the impact that our lifestyles are having on waste management, energy use and transport.

Student Activity Ideas

• Students to conduct a water-audit and discuss the results in the class. (Ensure water conservation and stormwater pollution issues are covered). See the following website for assistance: www.watercare.net/images/WaterSmart_Home_Audit.pdf
• Research the most effective ways of saving water at home.
• Students to be creative and design a water efficient house. (Include other environmental issues, like energy and waste management.)
• Students to conduct a water-audit of their garden or a nearby park and discuss ways to make the area more sustainable.

Internet Resources and Activities

Description	Resources and Activities
Conduct a WaterSmart Home Audit.	WaterCare www.watercare.net/ community_fact.php
Install a rainwater tank or find out how to use your more effectively.	WaterCare www.watercare.net/ community_fact.php
Follow the links for a comprehensive look at saving water at home, in the garden and in business.	Savewater.com www.savewater.com.au/default.asp
Water information - including saving water in the garden, at home and at work.	SA Water www.sawater.com.au/SAWater/ YourHome/SaveWaterInYourHome/
Backyards for Wildlife. Find out how to make your backyard friendly for wildlife.	Urban Forest Biodiversity Program www.urbanforest.on.net/ backyard.htm
Recycle all garden waste. On-line resource kit 'Down to Earth' with information about how to avoid waste, worm farms, composting and no-dig gardens.	NSW EPA www.epa.nsw.gov.au/publications/ html/downtoearth
Recycle household materials, including hazardous wastes, building waste, batteries, pharmaceuticals, metals and much more. Zero Waste recycling information directory is a great guide for finding out the closest place to recycle your materials.	Zero Waste www.zerowaste.sa.gov.au
Time to Act. Everyday tips for protecting the environment.	Environment Australia www.ea.gov.au/education/ publications/act
Do not collect firewood from bushland areas.	Community Biodiversity Network nccnsw.org.au/member/cbn/ projects/EducationCentre/ HI_Fire.html
Assessing habitats along a watercourse.	KESAB Patawalonga and Torrens Waterwatch www.cwmb.sa.gov.au/kwc/ section1/2-08.htm
Provide nest boxes for native birds, bats and possums in your garden. (Watch out for feral species using them).	SA Museum www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/ extinctions/prevent.htm www.floraforfauna.com.au/downloads/ nest_boxes_for_native_birds.pdf
Join 'Trees for Life' and become one of their plant growers.	Trees for Life www.treesforlife.org.au
Participate in River Murray Local Action Planning Committees.	River Murray Catchment Water Management Board www.rivermurray.sa.gov.au/ lapgroups
Participate in community water quality monitoring across the State. Regional Coordinators can assist monitoring activities in many parts of the State and can work in conjunction with Our Patch/Catchment Care and the Urban Forest Biodiversity Program. [see below]	Waterwatch SA www.sa.waterwatch.org.au
Participate in Our Patch/Catchment Care programs run by the metropolitan Catchment Water Management Boards to assist students in learning about biodiversity issues and promote community involvement in biological monitoring.	SA Catchment Water Management Boards www.catchments.net
Participate in the South Australian Urban Forest Biodiversity Program. Links to information on what biodiversity is, and why we should value it. It provides resources, information and assistance to teachers and school groups to learn about biodiversity and taking action to address issues, including biological monitoring.	South Australian Urban Forest Biodiversity Program www.urbanforest.on.net/main.htm
Frog Census. Participate in the annual frog census.	SA EPA www.environment.sa.gov.au/epa/ frogcensus

Who Can Help?

Organisation	Who Can Help?
Catchment Water Management Boards	Catchment Water Management Boards (CWMB): North Adelaide & Barossa Catchment Water Management Boards (CWMB): Onkaparinga Catchment Water Management Boards (CWMB): Torrens Catchment Water Management Boards (CWMB): Patawalonga Catchment Water Management Boards (CWMB): River Murray Catchment Water Management Boards (CWMB): South East
Conservation Council of SA	Conservation Council of SA (CCSA) Conservation Centre
Gould League	Gould League
Greening Australia	Greening Australia (GA)
KESAB	Keeping South Australia Beautiful Inc (KESAB)
Trees for Life	Trees for Life
Urban Forest Biodiversity Program	Urban Forest Biodiversity Program
Waterwatch SA	Waterwatch State Office Waterwatch: Broughton Wakefield Waterwatch: KESAB Patawalonga & Torrens Waterwatch: North Adelaide & Barossa Waterwatch: River Murray (Upper) Waterwatch: River Murray (Lower) Waterwatch: South East Onkaparinga Waterwatch Network

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