Many areas of our country are facing drought and extreme water restrictions due to a lack of rain. While the Western Cape hasn’t been as badly affected, it is vital for us to save the resources we do have.

Remember that every drop of our tap water is drinkable, so it’s even more important not to waste it. In many instances, it’s simply a case of changing our habits – don’t pour reusable water down the drain. Water from vases and water used to rinse fruit and vegetables can be saved and used to water the garden or pot plants.

Here are a few ideas to make you more water-savvy in your home and garden:

• Replace washers on leaking taps immediately. A tap that drips at a rate of one drop per second wastes 10 260 litres per year.
• Water your lawn deeply, but less frequently. As a rule of thumb, most lawns only need to be watered once every five days in summer and once every two weeks in winter (if at all).
• Don’t mow your lawn too short. Longer grass blades help to shade the roots and keep them moist and cool.
• Place a bucket in your shower and use the collected water to water your plants.
• When boiling eggs or vegetables in a pot, drain the water, wait for it to cool down and them use it to water your pot plants.