An imaginative water wise campaign has been launched to teach gardeners how to zone plants according to water needs in the garden

If Gauteng fails to decrease its use of piped water and the current population growth and urban development continue, demand for water is expected to exceed supply by 2013.

"The next phase of the Lesotho Highlands Water Transfer Scheme may only bring relief to Gauteng by 2019 at the earliest, so the period between 2013 and 2019 could well be a thirsty one," says Rand Water's Megan Taylor.

In light of this, Rand Water has joined forces with the gardening industry to teach gardeners how to zone their gardens according to the water needs of their plants.

The 3D (Three Drop) Water Wise 'Zone your Garden' Campaign is being rolled out to 80 garden centres across the Rand Water supply footprint (Welkom to Rustenburg and Randfontein through to Delmas) from early September.

The 3D Campaign identifies 20 Champion 'One Drop' plants (with low water needs), 20 Champion 'Two Drop' plants (with medium water needs) and 20 Champion 'Three Drop' (plants that have higher water needs). All 60 champion plants will be bear one, two and three drop stickers in garden centres.

The concept is that three drop plants should be planted near the patio or at high traffic entrance areas where they can be watered weekly. Two drop plants should be grouped in a zone slightly further from the house and the outer perimeter of the garden should include one drop plants that do not need any irrigation by municipal piped water.

Backed by monthly posters, point of sale T-bars and z-fold information brochures, the campaign will promote plants for low water, medium water and high water zones. It is hoped that the campaign - which runs until early January 2011 - will publicise the very worthy concept of zoning a garden to conserve water.