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WATER WISE

Catch the rain and save

If you could save on your water bills, ensure that your plants don’t suffer during dry spells, and
contribute to saving our country’s most precious natural resources, all in a simple, cost-effective
way, would you be interested?

Rainwater harvesting is an easy way to re-use water that would Natural filtration of water through soil is the simplest way
otherwise disappear down stormwater drains. Collected natural to control these pollutants, and is a direct advantage of
precipitation provides a renewable supply of natural, soft, permeable paving or other man-made soak-aways.
clear water, without harming the environment. In fact,
harvesting rainwater can assist in preventing flooding in 3. Gutter systems
highly built-up urban areas, and can reduce the runoff of Gutters can be used to direct rain water to storage
pollutants and pesticides into rivers and streams. containers, rain tanks, or specific areas in your garden.
Sometimes, the force of rainwater directly onto pot plants,
There are a variety of simple ways to collect, direct, and ponds, or garden beds from gutters can be too strong and
harvest rainwater, namely raintanks, permeable paving, needs to be softened. Place pebbles or gravel to break the
gutters, and channels. force. Selected mulches around these areas can act like
sponges that absorb water and then releases it slowly into
1. Raintanks the soil.
Harvest rainwater from your roof, and collect, and store it
with raintanks, from where it can be distributed. There are 4. Channelling
many benefits to collecting rainwater in tanks and other You can direct stormwater to specific parts of your garden
storage containers, including: using channels, culverts, or troughs. Create ‘dry riverbeds’
• Reduction in the use of municipal water. using a lined channel covered with a variety of pebbles,
• Lower water bills. rocks, and stones in various colours and designs. Detect
• Reduced flooding and erosion. where the water comes from, e.g. roofs, hard surfaces,
and streets and decide where you want it to go in your
2. Permeable paving garden.
The increase in impermeable surfaces in urban areas
has caused an increase in flooding and pollutant runoff. Save water, spend less money, and
Stormwater flowing across streets, sidewalks and gardens ensure that your plants always have
picks up contaminants such as litter, spilled oil, detergents, water by harvesting rainwater.
solvents, dead leaves, pesticides, fertiliser, and bacteria.

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