Water use and conservation

Water is a precious resource in the Pilbara and residents are encouraged to use it wisely. Here are some tips to consider.

Outside the home

• All communities north of Kalbarri and Kalgoorlie operate on an 'alternate days' watering roster and may only water either before 9am or after 6pm, unless your town is on water restrictions.
• The alternate days watering roster works on the basis that if your house number ends in an odd number (1, 3, 5, 7 or 9) you may water on dates of the month ending in an odd number. If your house number ends with an even number (0, 2, 4, 6, 8) you may water your garden on days ending with an even number.
• Water your lawn only when it looks like it needs it.
• Wash your car on the lawn and use a bucket, not a running hose.

Inside the home

• Take a shower instead of a bath. A short shower uses about a third as much water as a bath. An average shower uses about 25 litres of water per minute and, the hotter it is, the more power it will use.
• Dishwashers and washing machines can both use a lot of water. Try not to operate them with small loads. When buying, look for models with good water efficiency ratings. Front loading washing machines generally use less water than top loaders.
• Leaving the tap running when washing dishes, fruit and vegetables or brushing your teeth can waste up to 15 litres of water a minute.

Maintenance

• If you have leaky taps and cisterns please log a job with the Infrastructure Service Desk. Water from a dripping tap adds up over time. Check for worn tap washers and replace if necessary.
• Have you got a low water garden? Up to 50 per cent of household water can be used on watering the lawn and garden. A low water garden will reduce this considerably. Good mulch over your garden will reduce evaporation loss from the surface of the garden, allowing you to water less frequently.
• Check your reticulation system – is it in good working order with no leaks or worn nozzles? Are you watering in the heat of the day, rather than as recommended by the Water Corporation?
• How long and how often is your reticulation set to come on for? You can check the amount of water that is being used on your lawn by placing a container on the lawn for the whole watering cycle and measuring the depth of the water at the end. The depth should be about 10mm and watering is recommended twice a week.

Swimming pools

• Swimming pools in the North West need topping up frequently because there’s a high rate of evaporation. Keeping the pool clean can reduce the frequency of backwashing filters, which will help reduce the amount of water used. Pool covers can also help reduce evaporation.