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The Benefits of Xeriscaping

by Ri Industries

Xeriscaping, pronounced “zeer-i-scape,” is defined as ‘landscaping designed specifically for areas that are susceptible to drought, or for properties where water conservation is practiced.’ The term is derived from the Greek word ‘Xeros,’ which means dry, and ‘scape,’ which means scene. Put together, we get ‘dry scene.’

Xeriscaping is a beneficial practice in South Australia as we battle drought or limited rainfall conditions. The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology puts out a monthly drought report and the latest (June 2019) shows western South Australia once again had below average rainfall. For those of us who want beautiful gardens and/or to help our environment, xeriscaping can be a fantastic solution. 

 What are the benefits of xeriscaping?

  • Reduce water consumption as much as 50 -75%. In fact, if you choose a desert landscape it can eliminate water consumption completely.
  • Limited maintenance is required as mulching and weeding may be all that is required.
  • All natural – by choosing native plants there will be no need for chemical supplements.
  • Reduces pollution because there is no need to use gardening tools such as gas mowers.
  • Creates a wildlife habitat by growing native plants alongside trees, and shrubs.
  • Saves money since there is no need to purchase fertiliser or expensive gardening equipment.

Since the most important aspect of xeriscaping is reduced water consumption, it is important to research the plot of land where the garden will be. Look at the contours of the terrain, soil absorption, and drainage patterns. You want soil that is rich in organic material and you will want to keep it well aerated. Compost is a great way to enrich the soil. 

The goal of the xeriscape is to provide as much of the needed water by rainfall as possible. However, there will be times when additional water will be needed. Consider installing a drip irrigation system from your rainwater tank or simply use soaker hoses. Each of these will deliver water slowly and promote root absorption in your plants and will safeguard against soil erosion. 

Choose native, drought-resistant plants. We have a nice variety of such plants available here in South Australia. Choose a combination of plants you find pleasing to look at and would enjoy. 

Mulching is imperative to help soil retain moisture and temperature as well as help to control weeds. You want to avoid leaving the soil around plants bare. Leaves, wood chips, coarse compost, gravel, bark, and pine needles are all good choices for mulch.

Minimise the turf areas in your garden since they require more watering. Most people choose to include a small turf area for aesthetic reasons. Choose turf from the variety that consumes less water.

It is possible to create a beautiful landscape while conserving water. There are many online resources to help you plan your own xeriscape or there are xeriscape professionals who can plan and create it for you. 

If you would like to learn more about the Ri-Industries concrete rainwater tanks, please call and speak with one of our experts. 

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Times Are Dry

by Ri Industries

Adelaide just recorded its driest January since 1957 and water has been in short demand. This seems like a good time to discuss how you can save water in your home. Let’s look at water use in the bathroom and kitchen.

Did you know 40% of all water used in the home is used in the bathroom? To help conserve water and save money, the first thing to do is look at the appliances and look for products with a high star rating. The average home can save approximately $150/year by installing a standard 3-star rated shower head which costs approximately $20.

Some simple habit changes can also help 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 bath 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 the water in the sink off when brushing teeth or shaving. Use running water only to rinse.

Another method to conserve water is to install a rainwater tank such as the one manufactured by Ri-Industries. Once the rain starts coming again, it can be collected from your roof and gutters. The rainwater tanks Adelaide can be connected to your toilet plumbing. Then, every time you flush, you are using rainwater, instead of water from the mains. Recycled rainwater is an excellent way to conserve water, plus it will save on your monthly water bills.

Let’s move to the kitchen where around 10% of total household water is consumed. Here are tips to help save water:

  • 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 bowl of water whenever possible to avoid running the tap.

Small changes can mean big savings in water consumption. In dry times like these, it’s important for us all to make an effort. Call Ri-Industries, at 08 8444 8100, to learn more about our concrete rainwater tanks.

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Did You Know Conserving Water is Good for Your Septic Tank?

by Ri Industries

Isn’t it great when we can do something good for ourselves and it happens to be good for the environment too? Taking steps to care for your home’s septic tank can mean less stress and less money spent on repairs. One way of caring for your septic tank is by conserving water, which of course, is good for the environment too!

Let’s break this down. The septic system receives wastewater from many places in your home: toilets; showers; washing machines; dishwashers; and sinks. The less water you use, the less of a load that is placed on the soil absorption area (also known as a drainage field). The drainage field can only hold so much, meaning that excessive water may overload your septic system and result in system failure. By conserving water use in your home, not only can you extend the lifetime of the septic system, but you also extend the health of the environment.

So, how exactly can you limit water use in your home? Luckily there are some simple and easy ways to get started:

  • Fix leaky taps and running toilets.
  • Don’t leave the water running.
  • Toilets are not for rubbish – place rubbish in the rubbish bin, not the toilet.
  • Reduce water use up to 50% by using water efficient fixtures.
  • Do less loads! Only run dishwashers and washing machines when they are full.
  • One load of washing dispels a large amount of water into the drainage field. Give it time to recover by spacing out the loads.
  • Spread out showers and baths as well.
  • Fill your garden with plants, flowers, and bushes that require little water.
  • Don’t water your lawn or garden during the hottest times of the day.

With just a little thought and planning, it can be easy to reduce water use in your home. Share these tips with the others in your household to get the most benefits and help your septic system live a long and healthy life. Questions? Call Ri-Industries (08 8444 8100) for answers or to learn more about our septic tank systems.

 

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To Bidet or Not To Bidet?

by Ri Industries

Bidets are often thought to go hand in hand with the ultra rich, but in recent years environmentalists have sparked a debate over the benefits of bidet usage. Ri Industries would like to offer some of the points of discussion to help you get to the, ahem, bottom of the issue and decide for yourself if using a bidet fits in your environmental plan.

Perhaps your first thought is, wait a minute! Australia has a dangerously dry climate and we work so hard to conserve water. Why on earth would I add water to a dry process that has worked just fine for me? Well that’s a reasonable question. Obviously, using a bidet will increase the amount of water used during each trip to the bathroom, but there are many factors which show using a bidet may actually result in less overall water usage.

Before we expand on the water usage, let’s discuss saving the trees. What? When did trees enter our bathrooms? Trees are wrapped around that spindle in the form of toilet paper. Think about how much toilet paper you use on a daily, weekly, monthly basis. Now multiply that by the number of people in your household, your city, etc. We use a lot of toilet paper. There have been many studies to learn exactly how much and the consensus is that each person uses approximately 1 – 2 rolls of toilet paper per week. That means 1 person uses about 100 rolls per year. 1 pine tree can produce 2000 rolls or enough toilet paper for 20 people per year. In 2015, Australia had an estimated population of 23.9 million people. 11,950 trees will be sacrificed for Australians on a yearly basis. What is the bidets impact on this? Complete elimination of toilet paper, or at the least, a reduction in the use of toilet paper. While the bidet will handle the cleaning aspect, some may still want assistance with the drying process. Of course cloth could be used, but again, some may prefer using something disposable.

So it seems rather clear that using a bidet can reduce paper waste, but let’s go back to water waste. How does a bidet save water if it in fact introduces more water into the bathroom process? The answer brings us back to toilet paper. What you may not realize is just how water intensive the paper manufacturing process is. According to mnn.com, “Even if water used by a mill is locally sourced, rather than drawn from a municipal system, the effluent from paper production invariably finds its way back into the environment. That means a flood of organic waste and chemical residue which must be processed or, worse yet absorbed, after being treated and dumped into some unlucky river or ocean.” Bidets use a fraction a the water used to manufacture toilet paper; even less than manufacturing recycled toilet paper.

These are two of the major points in the debates about the environmental impact of bidets. What are your thoughts? Would you be comfortable using a bidet if it made a positive impact on our environment?

 

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Compost to Conserve Water

by Ri Industries

Water conservation can be achieved using many methods.  We’ve talked about a lot of them, but one method we haven’t touched on yet is composting. Yes, composting can actually help us conserve water!

Let’s start at the beginning by answering the question, what is compost? Quite simply, compost is decomposed organic matter. It is generally made up of vegetable peelings, fruit waste, grass clippings, tea bags, and plant prunings, but other materials may be added as well. Compost is well known for adding nutrients to gardens and plants, but it also helps to conserve water.

Using composted mulch in landscaping and agriculture has been shown to improve the efficiency of water use by reducing evaporation, improving water infiltration and storage, and reducing deep drainage.

Turf grown with the application of composted soil conditioner can require up to 30% less water. This can increase root penetration, resulting in deeper root systems that explore a larger soil area for moisture and nutrients, reducing deep drainage and irrigation requirements. In sandy soils, composted soil conditioners improve water retention and lateral root distribution in the soil, improving plant access to soil water, and reducing deep drainage and irrigation requirements.

Compost application tips:

  • Composted mulch is applied on the soil surface around the plants after planting. It should not touch the stems and trunks of plants.
  • Compost can be applied any time of the year.
  • For water conservation, apply prior to summer when soil evaporation is usually highest and when plants require the most water.
  • Compost exposed to full sun will not deliver its full benefits so use compost on the soil and then cover it with mulch.

Here at Ri Industries we’re always on the lookout for water conservation tips we can share. This one can be a fun project and result in beautiful foliage and tasty fruit and vegetables. How great is that?

For more ways Ri Industries can help, contact us at 08 8444 8100.

 

Is Water Collected from a Rainwater Tank Safe?

by Ri Industries

Warmer weather typically means increased water use around the home. Plants, grass, and gardens need extra watering. Pools need to be filled or topped off, and people tend to need an extra shower here and there. Perhaps this is why we’ve been fielding a lot questions about our Ri Industries Concrete Rainwater Tanks.

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One of the most frequent questions we get asked is about the safety of drinking the collected rainwater. According to SA Health (sahealth.sa.gov.au):

“Generally rainwater is safe to drink. If the rainwater is clear, has little taste or smell and is from a well-maintained system, it is probably safe and unlikely to cause any illness for most users.

Disinfecting the water before consumption should be considered for those who are immuno-compromised such as the very young or very old, cancer patients, people with diabetes, organ transplant recipients or people who are HIV positive. This can be achieved by bringing the rainwater to the boil.”

Another often asked question is about the quality of collected rainwater. Again, according to SA Health:

“Rainwater collected in tanks generally contains few chemicals. However, there may be increased pollution by airborne contaminants from very heavy traffic or in industrial areas.

Collection of rainwater for human consumption (drinking and cooking) in areas affected by very heavy traffic, industry, incinerators and smelters is not recommended.

The microbiological quality of rainwater collected in domestic tanks may not be as good as mains water, but if collection systems are well maintained, the risk of harmful organisms being present is low. The supply of good quality water depends on ensuring correct design and installation followed by sensible maintenance of the rainwater tank and catchment area. The collection of rainwater involves low maintenance — not no maintenance.”

When you purchase and install a concrete rainwater tank from Ri Industries, you can be certain of correct and quality design and installation. Our rainwater tanks are very low maintenance as you will see on the maintenance page of our website.

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