Water Conservation

This page contains the following sections
	Human Impacts on Catchments • Resources • Activities • Who Can Help?

Why water is a limited resource in South Australia?
Water is required not just by humans for drinking and the economy, but by the environment to maintain ecosystems and overall catchment health.
Water supply for much of the State comes from the Murray River or the Mt Lofty Ranges.
The Murray River provides water for numerous communities. Water for: the environment, industry, food sources, drinking, recreation, business, domestic use and more.
The management of the Murray River involves fierce competition between industrial, commercial, agricultural and domestic sectors, interest groups, Local, State and Federal Governments, environmental organisations and individuals in our society. Conservation of water within this framework is critical for the long term sustainability of the Murray-Darling catchment and all other catchments in South Australia.
How can we conserve water in the home, at school and in the community?

Type	Description	Resources Covering the Topic
Easy	- Follow the links for a comprehensive look at saving water at home, in the garden and in business.	Savewater.com http://www.savewater.com.au/default.asp
	- Help save the Murray. - Information on saving water in many aspects of our lives.	The River Murray Urban Users Committee http://www.murrayusers.sa.gov.au/ save_the_murray.htm
	- Education pages with lots of information about water, including water conservation.	ACTEWAGL http://www.actewagl.com.au/education/default.cfm
	- Conserve water. - Lots of activities and information regarding water conservation.	Melbourne Water http://conservewater.melbournewater.com.au/
	- Lots of water information, including saving water in the garden, at home and at work.	Yarra Valley Water http://www.yvw.com.au/corp_index.html
	- Water, waste and conservation action. - Brief description of how much water Australians use compared to other countries, and what we can do to minimise waste.	City West Water http://www.citywestwater.com.au/
	- Tips for saving water.	Planet Ark http://www.planetark.org/ dosomethingpage.cfm?pageid=6
	- ‘Waterwise in the Community’ - fact sheet providing informative and well organised information on water conservation in the urban environment.	The River Murray Urban Users Committee http://www.murrayusers.sa.gov.au/pdfs/ ww%20community.pdf
	- ‘Waterwise at Home’ - fact sheet providing informative and well organised information on water conservation in the urban environment.	The River Murray Urban Users Committee http://www.murrayusers.sa.gov.au/pdfs/ ww%20in%20home.pdf
	- ‘Waterwise Outside the Home’ - fact sheet providing informative and well organised information on water conservation in the urban environment.	The River Murray Urban Users Committee http://www.murrayusers.sa.gov.au/pdfs/ ww%20outside%20home.pdf
	- ‘Waterwise in the Workplace’ - fact sheet providing informative and well organised information on water conservation in the urban environment.	The River Murray Urban Users Committee http://www.murrayusers.sa.gov.au/pdfs/ ww%20workplace.pdf
	- Tips for saving water.	Gippsland Water http://www.gippswater.com.au/education/ conservation.asp
	- 100 ways to save water.	Water - Use it Wisely http://www.wateruseitwisely.com/100tips.html

Band	Activity	Contact
Primary Years	- Play the water conservation games, including ‘play the laundry game’, and ‘play the toilet game’ among others.	The River Murray Urban Users Committee http://www.murrayusers.sa.gov.au/ save_the_murray.htm
	- Extensive resources for Primary Schools in water education, including water conservation.	Gould League http://www.gould.edu.au/
	- Students home page has a range of online activities to teach about water conservation. - Follow the link to ‘Fun Stuff’ page.	WA Water Corporation http://www.watercorporation.com.au/student/ content-home-student.asp
	- Lots of water information, including an online calculation of the amount of water you use.	Yarra Valley Water http://www.yvw.com.au/corp_index.html
	- Do a water audit at your school. - Download the sheets and test how water friendly your school is.	The Murray Urban Users Committee http://www.murrayusers.sa.gov.au/pdfs/ School%20Water%20Audit.pdf
	- Conserve water. - Lots of activities and information regarding water conservation.	Melbourne Water http://conservewater.melbournewater.com.au/
	- How to calculate your water use at home. - Do a home water use audit on the calculator provided.	Brisbane City Council http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/home_garden/ water_sewerage/water_conservation/ calculate_usage.shtml
	- Gives a table that shows the average water use for different activities at home. Combine with the water audit to see how much water we use domestically.	Brisbane City Council http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/home_garden/ water_sewerage/water_conservation/ average_use.shtml
	- How water wise are you? - Comprehensive water audit online. Covers the main issues of water use around the home.	Brisbane City Council http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/home_garden/ water_sewerage/water_conservation/ water_survey.shtml
Middle Years	- ‘Water: Waste Not Want Not’. - Classroom activities to help learn about the importance of water in the environment. - Includes teacher notes and activities.	Australian Bureau of Statistics http://www.internal.schools.net.au/edu/water/
	- ‘Every Drop Counts’. - Extensive resources for Secondary Schools in water education, including developing plans for dealing with water issues in the school.	Gould League http://www.gould.edu.au/
	- How to calculate your water use at home. - Do a home water use audit on the calculator provided.	Brisbane City Council http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/home_garden/ water_sewerage/water_conservation/ calculate_usage.shtml
	- Gives a table that shows the average water use for different activities at home. Combine with the water audit to see how much water we use domestically.	Brisbane City Council http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/home_garden/ water_sewerage/water_conservation/ average_use.shtml
	- How water wise are you? - Comprehensive water audit online. Covers the main issues of water use around the home.	Brisbane City Council http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/home_garden/ water_sewerage/water_conservation/ water_survey.shtml

Organisation	Who Can Help?
Community Action: Local Action Planning Committees	Catchment Water Management Boards (CWMB): River Murray
Murray Darling Association - WaterWise	WaterWise
Gould League	Gould League
Local Government	Check your local government for information
Water Authority	Check your water authority for information