The Top Six Actions to help you save water in Alice Springs. Play your part to make Alice water smart. In Alice Springs we: Use efficient irrigation and adjust watering times seasonally Fix leaks quickly Water between 8pm 8am Encourage others to be water smart Schedule watering Find hidden leaks
The Top Six Actions to save water All over Alice Springs people are making small changes to their water use with big water saving results. Alice Water Smart has worked with the community to create the Top Six Actions for the greatest impact on water savings, whilst maintaining our great Alice lifestyle of beautiful gardens, great parks and ovals, and cooling off in the pool. Implementing the Top Six Actions will help Alice Springs non-renewable water supply last longer. This Guide brings together local knowledge, the results of almost 1000 professional Water Efficiency Consultations in Alice homes and businesses and feedback from community members who participated in a series of public workshops about water use. A Citizens Advisory Panel distilled this knowledge to create the Alice Springs Top Six Actions to save water. We can all play our part to make Alice water smart by implementing the Top Six Actions to save water. Alice Water Smart is helping Alice Springs residents save 1600 million litres of water per year, equivalent to two months average water supply. For more information visit www.alicewatersmart.com.au
Alice Water Smart Guide 1 In Alice Springs: ACTION 1 We install the correct irrigation equipment and adjust water timers seasonally ACTION 2 We water our gardens after 8pm or before 8am ACTION 3 We use an appropriate watering schedule for our plants so they receive not too much and not too little ACTION 4 We look out for, report and fix leaks quickly ACTION 5 We look for hidden leaks using the hidden leak test at least once a quarter ACTION 6 We learn and pass on our skills to be water smart Surely we know how precious; the 10,000 years it takes to fill your glass with water. From Aeon by Sue Fielding, 2012
GARDEN WATER Across Alice Springs, substantial water savings are possible in our gardens. The most important water smart gardening action is to water your plants deeper, longer and less often. You can have healthier plants whilst saving a lot of water by following Actions 1 3. ACTION 1: In Alice Springs we use the correct irrigation equipment and adjust water timers seasonally Adjust irrigation seasonally and after heavy rainfall. A good time for seasonal adjustments to occur is at the end of February, May, July and October. Install a pressure regulator or flow restrictor to reduce leaks and blow outs. Reducing the pressure and flow rate takes the strain off your irrigation pipes and joints.
Alice Water Smart Guide 3 Note: A pressure regulator can reduce the tap flow to 1 5L/ minute, enough for an irrigation line with 4L/hour drippers. This is much lower than the 30 60L/minute flow from a normal (unrestricted) garden tap and will put less pressure on joints and drippers. Use a tap timer or irrigation controller. This will ensure irrigation is not running longer than it needs to be. Irrigate lawns with modern rotator pop-ups. They apply water much more evenly than older style pop-ups and can often be fitted to existing systems. Installing rotator pop-ups can reduce your water use by around one third. Remember, slow water runs deep. Many plants will do better when water is applied slowly by 4L/hr drippers. These types of drippers ensure water soaks in deeper right where it s needed. ACTION 2: In Alice Springs we water our garden after 8pm or before 8am A lot of water can be wasted through evaporation if you water gardens during the hot parts of the day. Watering after sunset and before sunrise means more water for your plants and less for the sun. Note: On some occasions it may be necessary for organisations like the Alice Springs Town Council to water parks and ovals during the day, such as when watering in fertiliser, testing irrigation or to avoid vandalism at night.
ACTION 3: In Alice Springs we use an appropriate watering schedule for our plants so they receive not too much and not too little Water deeper, longer and less often. This encourages deep-rooted plants. Plants with deep roots are better able to access water, won t blow over in strong winds and generally thrive in our climate. Group plants with similar watering requirements. IDEAL ALICE SPRINGS WATERING SCHEDULE Type of Plant Season Frequency per week How much or how long? * Duration (mins) Established Lawn Summer 3 30 mins Winter 1 30 mins Established Citrus Established Grapes Vegetable Patch Established Palms and Cycads Summer 2 Winter 1 Summer 2 Winter 1 Summer Every 2nd day Winter 2 Summer 2 Winter Once a month 200 Litres ** or 10 mins with a hose 200 Litres ** or 10 mins with a hose 40 Litres ** or 2 mins with a hose 40 Litres ** or 2 mins with a hose 20 mins with a perforated hose or shrubblers 20 mins with a perforated hose or shrubblers 20 Litres ** or 1 min with a hose 20 Litres ** or 1 min with a hose * Volume application can be achieved in different ways. ** Multiple shrubblers are ideal for these plants and greatly alter water application times. Watering times are approximate. *** Assuming you are watering each plant with one 4L/hr dripper. Adjust duration to suit the flow rate of your drippers.
Alice Water Smart Guide 5 Every time you water ensure the depth of wet soil is enough for your plants to grow deep roots: Vegetable patches and lawn 20 30cm. Fruit trees about 50cm. Natives 50 100cm. Set your watering schedule using the following guide. For further information about appropriate watering schedules for your plants and equipment: Visit www.alicewatersmart.com.au Consult a garden expert. Native / drought tolerant plant age Season Frequency per week Duration *** (1x 4L/hr dripper) 2 3 weeks 3 weeks 3 months 3 12 months 1 3 years 3 years+ Summer 7 1 hour Winter 3 1.5 hours Summer 2 2 hours Winter 2 2 hours Summer 2 3 hours Winter 1 4 hours Summer Every one to two weeks 5 hours Winter Every second 5 hours Summer Every fourth 8 hours Winter Every second month 8 hours 6 years+ Should be almost self sustaining with occasional drink Important note: Don t make dramatic and sudden changes to irrigation schedules, especially in summer as plants need time to grow deeper roots. Wean plants onto new schedules gradually to give them time to grow deeper roots. For more information visit www.alicewatersmart.com.au
SNEAKY LEAKS Leaks can go unnoticed for years and waste substantial amounts of water. Fixing leaks is an easy and common sense way to avoid water waste and save money on your water bill. does your toilet run?
Alice Water Smart Guide 7 ACTION 4: In Alice Springs we look out for, report and fix leaks quickly TO LOOK OUT FOR LEAKS: Leaks can occur regularly in the garden. Check for wet patches, green spots, popped off drippers, joiners or disconnections in the garden irrigation system every couple of weeks. Check for dripping taps and showerheads. Leaking toilets can leak far more water than a tap. Any noise or water movement in the bowl can mean hundreds of thousands of litres a year is wasted. Check the toilet for leaks by putting food dye in the cistern and seeing if it ends up in the bowl. Use the hidden leak test explained in Action 5. FOUND A LEAK? In the street report it within 48 hours to Power and Water by calling 1800 245 092. In your home or garden let the handy person or landlord know. At your school ask your teacher to tell the maintenance person. At work report it to the manager and/or maintenance person within 24 hours. Simple leaks can be easy to fix yourself if you learn how. Alternatively find out who can fix leaks for you: Identify a local handy person to help fix simple leaks. Get advice about fixing simple leaks in your home by talking to your local hardware store person. To have more significant leaks fixed, contact a plumber. Keep the numbers for handy persons and plumbers in a convenient location. For more information visit www.alicewatersmart.com.au
ACTION 5: In Alice Springs we look for hidden leaks using the easy two step hidden leak test at least once a quarter Use a handy reminder to complete a quarterly hidden leak test such as when your Power and Water bill arrives. THE TWO STEP HIDDEN LEAK TEST Ask people in your home or business not to use water while you do the test. Step 1: Take a reading of the two right hand digits on your water meter. Step 2: Wait 10 minutes remember not to run any water during this time. If after 10 minutes there has been any movement in your meter reading, you have a leak. Even the smallest movement in your meter reading can add up to a lot of water over a year.
Alice Water Smart Guide 9 ACTION 6: In Alice Springs we learn and pass on our skills to be water smart Water smart skills are valuable. If you have water smart knowledge or skills don t forget to Pass it On! Show a friend how to fix a simple leak. Help a neighbour to understand their irrigation timer Show your kids how easy it is to do the hidden leak test. HERE ARE SOME MORE ACTIONS TO BE WATER SMART AND TO REMIND EACH OTHER ABOUT: Sweep leaves up with a broom or rake, not a hose. Ensure you have a water efficient shower head and try to shower in four minutes or less. At the start of summer, check your evaporative air conditioner (swampy) bleed off is set at 10 to 15 litres per hour and direct it into the garden. Use water efficient appliances where possible, including washing machines, dishwashers and car washes. Use a pool cover as often as possible. Consider reducing lawn areas. Even an efficiently irrigated lawn uses about 1400L/m 2 /year. When designing a new garden, consider water smart landscaping, such as swales. Swales are dry ponds and channels that collect irrigation water or rainwater and direct it to plant roots.
There are great opportunities to save water in Alice Springs In homes: A quarter of savings can be made by fixing leaks, 1 in 3 homes have been found to have a leak. Half of water savings can be made by smart garden watering. In businesses and organisations: 22% of all water metered and paid for is actually leaking away, unused. We d love to hear what you think. Your feedback is highly appreciated and will help us improve the Alice Water Smart Guide. Email us on community@alicewatersmart.com.au Find us on Facebook and Twitter. Thank you to everyone who is playing a part to make Alice water smart for the long term. Alice Water Smart thanks everyone who participated in Water Efficiency Consultations, community surveys and workshops, shared knowledge and volunteered to be a part of the Citizens Advisory Panel. Thank you to the Alice Water Smart Consortium, who are helping to make Alice water smart: Power and Water Corporation, Department of Land Resource Management, Alice Springs Town Council, Arid Lands Environment Centre and Tourism NT. The Alice Water Smart Guide was created in the International Year of Water Cooperation, 2013. Supported by the Australian Government through the Water for the Future initiative www.alicewatersmart.com.au Percentage water saving opportunities and the related Top Six Actions ACTION ACTION ACTION ACTION ACTION ACTION 1 2 3 4 5 6 52% Gardens 25% Leaks 11% Bathrooms 6% Air cons Pools 4% Appliances 3%