Why Save Water?Why Save Water?

Multicultural Community Education Project

Why learn about water?Why learn about water?

Water supply is limited in AustraliaWater supply is limited in Australia

We live with droughtWe live with drought

Water costs moneyWater costs money

Youth use the most waterYouth use the most water

So there is enough for future generationsSo there is enough for future generations

To educate othersTo educate others

AustraliaAustralia is known as “The Dry is known as “The Dry Continent”Continent”

What do you think the reason for this is?What do you think the reason for this is?

In Australia we have less than 50 days of rain a year.In Australia we have less than 50 days of rain a year.

The low water supply is also a result of high temperatures and The low water supply is also a result of high temperatures and evaporation. evaporation.

Much of Australia also consists of large areas of desert.Much of Australia also consists of large areas of desert.

The low rainfall and not enough natural mountain barriers to The low rainfall and not enough natural mountain barriers to catch catch the water when it falls means many parts of the country are often dry.the water when it falls means many parts of the country are often dry.

Drought occurs often in Australia these are months/ years of Drought occurs often in Australia these are months/ years of prolonged and abnormally dry periods where there is not enough prolonged and abnormally dry periods where there is not enough water for water for users normal needs.users normal needs.

In Australia, In Australia, South AustraliaSouth Australia is known as the driest state on the driest is known as the driest state on the driest continent.continent.

Australia is not the only place Australia is not the only place where water is a problem!where water is a problem!

Can you think of Can you think of some other countries some other countries where there is not where there is not enough water for enough water for people to use or people to use or where water is difficult where water is difficult to access?to access?

What do people from What do people from other countries have other countries have to do to get water?to do to get water?

What costs more 1litre of milk or What costs more 1litre of milk or 1000 litres of water?1000 litres of water?

1000 litres of water costs around 50 cents1000 litres of water costs around 50 cents

How important is water?How important is water?

What do we use water for?What do we use water for?

What of these uses could we do without?What of these uses could we do without?

Which are essential to life?Which are essential to life?

What other things need water to live?What other things need water to live?

What is a water cycle?What is a water cycle?

Planet Earth or Planet Water?Planet Earth or Planet Water?

Water makes up Water makes up about 75% of the about 75% of the planetplanet

Approximately 3% of Approximately 3% of which is fresh waterwhich is fresh water

The remaining 97% is The remaining 97% is salt watersalt water

Where in the world is all the fresh Where in the world is all the fresh water?water?

Of the 3% of fresh waterOf the 3% of fresh water

availableavailable

2/3 of it is locked away2/3 of it is locked away

as ice and snow.as ice and snow.

Leaving just 1%Leaving just 1%

available in the entireavailable in the entire

world for human use.world for human use.*demonstration*demonstration

So where is Australia’s fresh So where is Australia’s fresh water ?water ?

Water in Australia can be Water in Australia can be found in a number of found in a number of places, in Rivers, places, in Rivers, Streams, Creeks, Lakes, Streams, Creeks, Lakes, Reservoirs, and also Reservoirs, and also from underground such from underground such as aquifers and the Great as aquifers and the Great Artesian Basin.Artesian Basin.

All of these require All of these require rainfall or melting snow to rainfall or melting snow to recharge their supply.recharge their supply.

Hume Dam, Victoria

So where does our water in South So where does our water in South Australia come from ?Australia come from ?

In a drought year up to 90% of our water in In a drought year up to 90% of our water in Adelaide is sourced from the River MurrayAdelaide is sourced from the River Murray

The rest comes from our reservoirsThe rest comes from our reservoirssuch as Mt Bold and Kangaroo Creek. such as Mt Bold and Kangaroo Creek.

The River Murray is a major source of water for many regions The River Murray is a major source of water for many regions in Australia in Australia consider this, in 1 day of average flow of the consider this, in 1 day of average flow of the Amazon Amazon River is equal to about River is equal to about 1 whole year of flow for the 1 whole year of flow for the River MurrayRiver Murray

The River Murray Urban Users Local Action Planning The River Murray Urban Users Local Action Planning Committee Inc.Committee Inc.

The River Murray Urban Users Local Action The River Murray Urban Users Local Action Planning Committee Inc. (RMUUC), now operating Planning Committee Inc. (RMUUC), now operating its many projects under the MurrayCare™ banner, its many projects under the MurrayCare™ banner, is one of eleven local action planning groups that is one of eleven local action planning groups that are working to address River Murray natural are working to address River Murray natural resource management issues from a local resource management issues from a local perspective in South Australia. Local action perspective in South Australia. Local action planning is an initiative of the Murray-Darling Basin planning is an initiative of the Murray-Darling Basin Commission and it enables the local community to Commission and it enables the local community to determine priorities for action to address natural determine priorities for action to address natural resource management issues in the Murray-resource management issues in the Murray-Darling Basin. Darling Basin.

RMUUC is the only group that focuses on areas RMUUC is the only group that focuses on areas outside the Basin that use River Murray water. outside the Basin that use River Murray water. The River Murray Urban Users region includes The River Murray Urban Users region includes metropolitan Adelaide and all urban and rural metropolitan Adelaide and all urban and rural areas outside the Murray-Darling Basin that areas outside the Murray-Darling Basin that receive piped River Murray Water. This includes receive piped River Murray Water. This includes Yorke Peninsula, the Northern Spencer Gulf cities, Yorke Peninsula, the Northern Spencer Gulf cities, the Mid-North and some towns in the upper South the Mid-North and some towns in the upper South East, including Keith. The River Murray Urban East, including Keith. The River Murray Urban Users Region overlaps five of the eight Natural Users Region overlaps five of the eight Natural Resource Management regions across South Resource Management regions across South Australia.Australia.

Get Water Wise!Get Water Wise!

How much water does it take to make 1 newspaper?How much water does it take to make 1 newspaper?50 litres50 litres

How much water does a toilet use full flush?How much water does a toilet use full flush?10 litres10 litres

How many litres of water are used to make a 100g chocolate bar?How many litres of water are used to make a 100g chocolate bar?1 litre1 litre

How much water would an average garden sprinkler use in 3 minutes?How much water would an average garden sprinkler use in 3 minutes?50 litres50 litres

How much water is used for an average bath?How much water is used for an average bath?150 litres150 litres

How many litres of water does it take to make 1 glass of milk?How many litres of water does it take to make 1 glass of milk?1000 litres1000 litres

How much water is wasted if we leave the tap running while brushing our teeth?How much water is wasted if we leave the tap running while brushing our teeth?5 litres a minute5 litres a minute

How much water is used to make a 100 gram steak?How much water is used to make a 100 gram steak?9000 litres9000 litres

How much water does it take to make 1 cup of rice?How much water does it take to make 1 cup of rice?235 litres235 litres

Water UseWater UseWho uses the most water industry Who uses the most water industry (factories) or homes?(factories) or homes?

Households use over ½ of our water Households use over ½ of our water supplysupply

Where do you think the most water is Where do you think the most water is used inside a home?used inside a home?

40% Garden & Outdoors40% Garden & Outdoors20% Bathroom20% Bathroom11% Toilet11% Toilet16% Laundry16% Laundry11% Kitchen 11% Kitchen 2% Other2% Other

Saving water in your homeSaving water in your home

Dual Flush ToiletsDual Flush ToiletsThese are one of the These are one of the easiest ways to save easiest ways to save water because it gives water because it gives you a ½ flush or a full you a ½ flush or a full flush option. flush option.

Old single flush toilets Old single flush toilets use up to 16 litres a flushuse up to 16 litres a flush

New dual flush toilets use New dual flush toilets use as little as 3 litres a flushas little as 3 litres a flush

What you can do to save water?What you can do to save water?

Use a shower timer

Install a Rainwater tank

Install a AAA rated shower head

Buy appliances with a high star rating, these use

less water

Turn off the tap

Fix any leaks

Only turn appliances on when load is full

Plant Australian native plants, they need less

water

Fit a trigger nozzleTo your hose

Water RestrictionsWater RestrictionsMany of Australia’s states now have water restrictions.

Do you know what our water restrictions are in South Australia?

Current water restrictions include:

You must restrict the days you water your garden to once a week, for 3 hours only, using either, drippers, hand held hoses or hoses with trigger nozzles fitted.

The day you can water depends on the number of your house Even numbered houses- Saturday Odd numbered houses- Sunday

12

6

9 3

12

457

8

1011

AM

12

6

9 3

12

457

8

1011

PM

Between

7am- 10am

Or

4pm- 7pm

You can water your garden on any day if you use a watering can or bucket.Other types of watering systems such as sprinklers are not allowed.

Water RestrictionsWater RestrictionsYou cannot hose down concrete, paving, decking, You cannot hose down concrete, paving, decking, walls or roofs except in the case of a fire.walls or roofs except in the case of a fire.

Ponds, fountains and water features that don’t Ponds, fountains and water features that don’t recycle water must not be operated unless they recycle water must not be operated unless they support fish. support fish.

You can top these up with a hose with a trigger You can top these up with a hose with a trigger nozzle but you cannot refill these if they are empty.nozzle but you cannot refill these if they are empty.

You cannot refill an empty pool You cannot refill an empty pool or spa unless you have a permit.or spa unless you have a permit.

Children's wading pools can beChildren's wading pools can befilled with up to 250 litres of water filled with up to 250 litres of water

Washing cars and boats canWashing cars and boats canonly be done at a car wash oronly be done at a car wash or

from a bucket filled directly from afrom a bucket filled directly from atap. (You cannot use a hose)tap. (You cannot use a hose)

People with boats can flushPeople with boats can flushout motors and rinse metal partsout motors and rinse metal parts

to prevent corrosion.to prevent corrosion.

For further information see the SA Water website at www.sawater.com.au

Thank- youThank- you

References References Bureau of Meteorology, Living with drought. Retrieved January 23, 2008, Bureau of Meteorology, Living with drought. Retrieved January 23, 2008, from from http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/drought/livedrought.shtml

Murray Care Murray Care http://www.murrayusers.sa.gov.au))

On the trail of Clean Water, a resource for teachers and students. 2001, On the trail of Clean Water, a resource for teachers and students. 2001, S.A. Water, Adelaide .S.A. Water, Adelaide .

S.A. Water, Saving Water In Your Home. Retrieved January 23, 2008, from S.A. Water, Saving Water In Your Home. Retrieved January 23, 2008, from http://www.sawater.com.au/Water/YourHome/SaveWaterInYourHome.html

Chandra-Shekeran, K & Pham, T 2005, Youth Water Training Program, Chandra-Shekeran, K & Pham, T 2005, Youth Water Training Program, Western Young People’s Independent Network (WYPIN), VIC.Western Young People’s Independent Network (WYPIN), VIC.Contact: Contact: www.vicnet.au/~wypin