Helpful Tips to Conserve Water in the Garden

Wednesday, 25 November 2015 by Ri Industries

Have you been feeling an itch in your green thumb? Warmer weather tends to have that effect whether you’re an avid gardener or not. Plants and flowers not only look pretty, but have been scientifically proven to help us feel happier. Now that’s a great reason to head outdoors and get your hands dirty! All we ask, is when you tend to your garden keep water conservation in mind.

It is possible to grow a gorgeous garden while being water conscious. Here are just a few tips on how:

Water the roots of plants rather than the leaves, reducing wind spray and evaporation.
Don’t water in the middle of the day, in windy conditions or if it is likely to rain.
Make a small dam from mulch and soil to avoid water running off the soil.
Cool season grasses should be left longer in summer but warm season grasses such as couch and buffalo can be kept short.
Avoid cutting grass by more than a third of its length at any one time.
Replace struggling plants in autumn with drought tolerant species.
Place plants in the right spot so they can get the proper amount of sunlight and will not require extra watering.
Outdoor plants in pots use a lot more water than plants in the ground so use sparingly.
Wetting agents can reduce pot watering by 50 percent and water storage products in the soil will also extend periods between watering.
Good quality garden tap fittings save water because they are less likely to break or drip.
Drip irrigation systems are more water efficient than overhead watering because they deliver water directly to the root system, don’t cause overspray and prevent excess surface evaporation.
A digital watering timer can also significantly reduce the amount of water used.

Of course, our best tip is to use water from a rainwater tank! Concrete rainwater tanks from Ri Industries offer many benefits, such as:

The water stays cooler.
No algae develops.
The water has no after-taste.
They are bullet proof, vandal-proof and fire-proof.
Being underground means they are out of sight and don’t take up much of your valuable real estate.
Above ground tanks can be spray painted to fit in better with your surroundings.
Concrete is stronger and more durable.

For more information, please call us at 08 8444 8100.

How to Avoid Common Septic System Problems

Tuesday, 10 February 2015 by Ri Industries

What is a septic system? Essentially it is a large tank where human biological waste materials are broken down. Natural bacteria break the waste down into three components: gases, water, and solids. The gases and water are eliminated into the environment while the solids sink to the bottom of the tank and eventually will be pumped out. If human biological waste were the only substances to enter the septic system, many of the commonly known problems would not occur.

Most households require their septic system to handle much more than human waste materials. For example, kitchen wastes, water from baths and showers, out put from dishwashers and washing machines including soaps and cleansers. Non-biodegradable items also make their way into the septic systems.

The added substances and extra work required of the septic systems are where many of the problems arise. Why? Here are a few reasons:

Water levels rise more quickly than the solids can break down due to the excess water. This forces the solids into the distribution tubes which are solely designed for water.
Non biodegradable substances also cause the water levels to rise forcing the solids into the distribution tubes.
Detergents contain phosphates that act as fertilizer causing algae growth which blocks the perforations in the distribution tubes.

The above issues can be avoided or reduced by:

Spread the clothes washing out over the course of the week.
Shorten the length of showers.
Use liquid or gel soaps in dishwashers and washing machines as they do not contain phosphates.
Eliminate kitchen wastes.
Keep all non biodegradable substances out of the septic system.
Have the tank pumped on a regular basis.

For further guidance on maintaining your septic system, call Ri Industries at 08 8444 8100.

Garden Design Requiring Low Water Maintenance

Thursday, 11 December 2014 by Ri Industries

Tending a garden in South Australia can be a challenge due to our dry climate, but it is possible to design a garden to use less water. The following tips come via Hunter Water and can be useful to help you design a dream garden for your home.

Construct draining ditches so that they finish in garden beds.
Paths and courtyards can be pitched to drain to garden beds
Decks, gravel paths and gravel edges to paving can allow water to
soak into the ground.
Minimise lawn areas with paving, paths, decking and garden beds.
Minimise the number of pot plants as they dry out quickly and use more water than the same plant in the ground.
Minimise evaporation by using trees, fences, garden walls and shade cloth.
Mulch is magic for water saving. It reduces moisture loss but also suppresses weeds, maintains soil temperatures and generally improves the soil.
Group similar plants according to their water needs and you will reduce your overall
watering need.

Learn how the Ri –Treat Waste Water System can recycle your waste water for use in your garden and find even more helpful tips in Ri Industries blog “Tips to Save Water in the Garden.”

Reduce Water Use in the Garden

Tuesday, 7 October 2014 by Ri Industries

Did you know that an average Australian household will use 40% of its water in the garden? This makes the garden a prime location for water saving techniques. Here are a few suggestions:

Install a dripper system and only water during the permitted hours.
Use mulch to prevent water loss through evaporation and prevent soil erosion.
Plant your garden in watering zones. Group plants that require large amounts of water together to reduce your water use.
Choose a drought-resistant lawn.
Don’t over water your lawn – train it to use less water by encouraging the roots to grow deeper. Let grass grow longer in the summer months which will shade the soil surface and reduce evaporation loss.
Don’t water during windy weather – water will blow away from where it’s needed most.
Instead of hosing, use a broom or rake to clean paths, paved areas and patios.

Our Ri-Treat Waste Water Treatment System is another tool that will help with water use. By using this system, the waste water from your home will be treated and made usable for the garden. Call us to learn about all of our products on 08 8444 8100 and start saving water!

Tips to Save Water in the Bathroom

Thursday, 4 September 2014 by Ri Industries

Here’s an interesting fact – 40% of all water used in the home is used in the bathroom. So if you want to conserve water, the bathroom is the logical place to begin.

First, take a look at the appliances. Check the manufacturers water efficiency label and look for products with a high star rating. A standard 3-star rated shower head can save the average home approximately $150/year and only costs about $20.

Not only can water efficient appliances help you save water, but a few simple changes in habits can help too. Ri-Industries offers the following tips to help you save water in the bathroom:

Take shorter showers.
Use a timer in the shower to help you keep track of time.
Use a bucket to collect water while waiting for the water to get hot. Use the collected water on plants or other household uses.
Insulate hot water pipes.
Do not run water while shaving. Use water only to rinse off.
Only use as much water as is necessary in the bath.
Monitor the temperature as the tub fills to avoid adding water to regulate the temperature.
Collect used bathwater to use in the garden or to wash cars.
Use 4-star rated toilets.
Regularly check toilets for leaks and repair when needed.
Turn water in basin off when brushing teeth or shaving. Use running water only to rinse.

Ri-Industries is committed to water conservation and community education. For more information, please contact us at 08 8444 8100.

Tips to Save Water in the Kitchen

Sunday, 6 July 2014 by Ri Industries

Did you know that the kitchen uses around 10% of total household water consumption? To help you save water, Ri Industries offers the following tips:

Dishwashers consume the most water in the kitchen. Look for the WELS label of water efficiency. The more stars, the more water efficient the appliance. Only run the dishwasher when it is full. If the dishwasher has a rinse-hold setting, use it in lieu of rinsing dishes with sink water.
Do not run water over frozen food to defrost. Instead, defrost overnight in the refrigerator.
Use washing-up liquid sparingly to limit the amount of rinsing required.
Waiting for the running water to warm up? Catch it in a container and use it to water plants, rinse dishes, or wash fruits and vegetables.
Use a plugged sink or a tub of water whenever possible to avoid running the tap.

Want to conserve even more water? Call 08 8444 8100 to learn about Ri Industries rainwater tanks and Ri Treat Waste Water Treatment System.

Natural Products for Cleaning Your Home

Sunday, 16 March 2014 by Ri Industries

There is an old saying that goes, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” Ri-Industries believes that lemons can be used for much more. That’s because lemons are just one of many natural products that you can use to clean your home.

Natural cleaning products such as lemon juice are especially useful to the owner of a Ri-Industries septic tank because they are not as harsh or harmful to the environment as many brand name chemical products.

What are some of these products, and where do they work? We have compiled a list of some commonly used natural cleaning products, and the places they work best.

Product #1: Lemons

In Your Bathroom: Use lemon juice to dissolve hard water deposits and soap scum.

In Your Kitchen: Cut a lemon in half and sprinkle baking soda on the cut section. Use the lemon half to scrub dishes, surfaces and stains.

In Your Living Room: Mix 1 cup olive oil with ½ cup lemon juice, and use it as hardwood furniture polish.

Beware: While lemon juice may be easy on your Ri-Industries septic tank or your Ri-Treat wastewater treatment system, keep in mind that it can also act as a natural bleach. Before you go all natural, test your lemon juice remedy on a place that is out of sight.

Product #2: Vinegar

In Your Bathroom: Flush the toilet to allow the water level to go down before pouring the undiluted vinegar around the inside of the rim, and scrub down the bowl. Mop the bathroom floor with a water/vinegar solution.

In Your Kitchen: Clean the top of your stove with equal parts water and vinegar. You can also do the same for most surfaces in your kitchen. Vinegar will keep your countertops and floors sparkling clean, and has the added benefit of acting as a natural deodoriser.

In Your Laundry: Adding ½ cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle can act in the place of store-bought fabric softener. Vinegar breaks down laundry detergent more effectively, leading to less harmful grey water, and can also be used to clean out the washing machine.

Beware: Improperly diluted vinegar can eat away at tile grout, and should never be used on marble surfaces. However, if you’re worried about your home smelling like vinegar, have no fear; the vinegar smell vanishes almost as quickly as it cleans.

Product #3: Baking Soda

In Your Kitchen: Put a box of baking soda in your refrigerator or freezer to absorb the frozen food smell.

Anywhere That Smells: Like vinegar, baking soda is a phenomenal natural deodoriser.

Anywhere in the Home: Use baking soda in a mixture with lemon juice and vinegar to make a cleaning paste, and scrub surfaces anywhere in your home.

We hope you found our tips to be helpful for keeping your home clean. By using natural cleaning products, not only will your house smell and look great, you will be helping the environment as well.

How To Teach Kids About Water Conservation

Sunday, 19 January 2014 by Ri Industries

At Ri-Industries, we are committed to teaching water conservation to all people – and that includes kids. Believe it or not, children are not too young to learn ways to conserve and recycle water in the home.

Here is a list of 13 water conservation tips just for kids:

Turn off the bathroom tap when you don’t need water, especially when you’re washing your hands or brushing your teeth.
Showers use less water than baths do, so try to take a shower when you can.
Only flush human waste. Don’t throw tissues, sweet wrappers or paper in your toilet. It makes your toilet use more water to dispose of these items.
If you are doing dishes, turn off the tap as you scrape food into the bin. Only use water when you are rinsing dishes.
Let a parent know if you notice a leaky tap.
Find out if you have a leak in your toilet with this fun test. Place a drop of food colouring in the toilet tank. If colour shows up in the bowl and you haven’t flushed, your toilet has a leak.
Observe when your sprinkler system is running and let a parent know if it is running during the hottest part of the day. The sun absorbs the water too quickly then.
If your job is to water plants, remember that you only need to sprinkle them with water. A little bit of water goes a long way when it comes to gardening.
Collect the water from a pot of cooked pasta or other food (make sure it’s cooled off first!) and put into a watering can for your indoor plants.
When you want to wash your bicycle, fill up a bucket with water instead of using a hose. Hoses let out much more water than you need.
Does that shirt really need to be washed? Only put dirty clothes into your laundry hamper. This will save water when you use the washing machine.
Did you know buying recycled paper products helps with water conservation too? It takes about 22 litres of water to produce a dollar’s worth of paper. Ask your parent to look for recycled paper to save water and the environment.
Get your parents to check out concrete rainwater tanks. They collect rainwater that can be used for irrigation or hot water systems.

And for more great water tips, check out this video from Watersong.com.au:

If you need help finding solutions for water conservation in your home, please contact us with any questions.

Natural Ways to Keep Your Bathroom Clean

Wednesday, 9 October 2013 by Ri Industries

If you are interested in purchasing a Ri-Treat Waste Water system or septic tank, you are looking for the greatest level of water-filtering efficiency at the lowest environmental cost. These systems allow you to utilize your local ecosystem to your own personal advantage.

However, Ri-Industries products are not the only natural solution to your daily household needs; there are many natural ways to keep your bathroom clean without hurting the local environment with damaging chemical cleaners.

Here are just a few suggestions for how to clean your bathroom, the natural way.

Suggestion # 1: Daily Maintenance

Believe it or not, daily maintenance of your bathroom can ultimately lead to less intensive cleaning in the long run. How is this possible? To put it simply, cleaning your bathroom for a few minutes each day will keep your tub, sink, and commode from getting putrid. Use a cup to wash the soapy residue down the drain after you shower. Have a towel handy to periodically wipe dust off the mirrors and windows. Finally, try picking a day each week to wash the water around the toilet bowl using your toilet brush, focusing on the water line inside the bowl. With regular maintenance, you’ll never have to do any hard-scrubbing.

Suggestion # 2: Use Natural Cleaners

For those hard-to-reach spots that daily maintenance just can’t handle, you may need to add a bit of cleaner and extra attention. But this does not mean that you need to use a brand name cleaner that may contain harmful chemicals. Try using natural alternatives, such as baking soda and vinegar, or soft cleaners like vegetable oil soap. Vinegar and salt make an especially good surface cleaner, while baking soda is an effective ingredient for cleansing and deodorizing your bathroom.

Suggestion Number 3: Safe Disposal

Using chemical cleaners is especially damaging to your local ecosystem in a non-sewered area, where your waste water can filter in with the ground soil. To protect the area around your home, and work with your natural resources instead of against them, it is important to be conscious of what you are flushing down your drains. For toilet stains, sprinkle baking soda in the bowl, and add vinegar and scrub with a brush. When cleaning and freshening the sink drain, pour baking soda down the drain, followed by vinegar. You can flush the mixture away using boiling water. If baking soda and vinegar don’t satisfy you, make sure you invest in a biodegradable cleaner that will have the least impact on the environment.

Do you think you are up to the task of keeping a clean, all natural bathroom? Remember, every little effort counts toward maintaining a healthy local ecosystem. If you are interested in this and other ways that Ri-Industries can help you help your environment, contact us here.

Household Tips