Kempsey, let's talk water sustainability
Published on 28 August 2023
After two soaking wet years, we are all noticing the warmer and drier conditions in our valley, as well as higher incidences of bushfires, even before the official start of the fire season.
Just last week. Kempsey Council announced they would be switching over to the Steuart McIntyre Dam following continued dry weather and declining river levels.
The Bureau of Meteorology has declared that conditions are likely to be warmer and drier for most parts of Australia over the next six months because of a developing El Nino pattern and other climate indicatiors.
El Niño conditions generally result in below average rainfall over much of eastern Australia, increasing the risk for drought and bushfires.
One of the most important ways individuals and businesses can adjust to warmer and drier conditions is by using less water.
After the wet season we have experienced, it would be useful to give your domestic and business water usage a quick audit to see where you can make some savings.
With just a few tweaks, it's possible to save 50L or more per day!(PDF, 320KB)
When you think about it, there are a surprising amount of opportunities to save water just from everyday water use in your house, business and garden.
Some easy tips include
- Reduce your household water use by limiting shower time to 4 minutes and installing water saving shower heads.
- Check your taps inside and outside – are they constantly dripping? Turn off taps tightly or replace washers if required.
- Use your grey water from your shower or washing machine for the garden
- Turn off taps when brushing your teeth
- When using your dishwasher and washing machine, only run it when its full
- Install a rainwater tank if possible
- Think about how much water your plants need before you plant them – choose native trees and plants with low water requirements
For a full list of water saving tips, check out the water wise tips on our website.
Don't forget to check out our EXCELLENT factsheet on how you can save 50L of water per day(PDF, 320KB)
!