Saving water around the home is simple, and not only saves water but saves money, according to Smart Approved WaterMark, Australia’s symbol for water saving products around the home.

“During National Water Week, it is timely to remind ourselves that not only using water responsibly should be a commitment for us all, but also it is really easy to save water,” says the CEO of Smart WaterMark, Julian Gray.

“A bonus is that saving water also saves us money – for any outlay there is usually an increased saving in the family budget. By taking simple measures, thousands of litres of water can be saved and reduced water bills will result,” says Julian.

Apart from the obvious tips of turning off the water while cleaning your teeth or making sure a dripping tap is fixed, there are many innovative ideas that make saving water easy.

Smart WaterMark has developed 10 key water saving tips for National Water Week in 2009.

They are:
1. Use mulch in the garden or pot plants. Mulch stops water from evaporating and holds the water in the soil where it is needed. There are many varieties of mulch available from garden centres. There’s even rubber mulch made from shredded car tyres!
2. Fit a shower timer. They can be a simple as a waterproof alarm designed to warn you when a set time is up, or they can be sophisticated enough to cut off the hot water supply after a set time. From around $15.
3. Install a rainwater diverter. Don’t let precious rainwater disappear down the drain. A rainwater diverter enables the water to be directed where it is needed – onto garden beds, into a rainwater tanks or into pools or ponds. There are a range of diverters available and they can easily be fitted by a plumber or home handyperson. They are priced from $22.
4. Use a waterless car wash. Believe it or not there are several car wash products that require you to use no water. When it comes to cleaning your car you can make big water savings.  Waterless car washes from around $10.
5. Collecting greywater can be as simple as putting a bucket in the shower or using a ‘Hughie sink’, a plastic insert you can put into the kitchen sink and save that rinsing water to tip onto plants. It retails for $25.
6. Cover that swimming pool. A pool cover might cost in short term, but over time you will be well in front when you consider the water savings due to reduced evaporation, less use of chemicals and less energy used if it is heated. Cover costs will vary according to size and materials, but in several states rebates are available to help offset the initial cost.
7. Use wetting agents and soil enhancers. Soil wetting agents simply help water penetrate different kinds of soil and be absorbed and retained. Soil enhancers are designed to improve the water and nutrient retention capacity, structure, aeration, quality and performance of growing media, and to improve root and plant growth. Packs start from under $10.
8. Use high pressure low flow water cleaners. There are several products now that reduce the water flow by up to 80% while providing 25 times the pressure of regular mains water. And some don’t even need connection to mains water to operate.
9. Go online for heaps of water saving information.
 There are many sources of information for water saving tips in and around the
 home. Your water utility offers a wide range of water saving advice, while  websites are really  helpful. Try www.smartwatermark.org for advice on water saving products,  www.lifeisagarden.com.au for gardening advice, and www.waterrating.gov.au for WELS indoor  product ratings.
10. Look for the Smart WaterMark symbol – over 180 products and services now carry this independent national symbol which shows they are proven to save water.Â

The web site www.smartwatermark.org has a complete listing of the products and services with the Mark, where to find them and any rebates offered, as well as the online calculators to help people work out how much water they can save around their homes.