High School Water Conservation Booklet Name: - Bundaberg ...

A number of options are available to school to reduce irrigation’s water consumption andcosts.Oval irrigationIrrigating ovals, fields, and large grassed areas consumes enormous amounts of water.This type of irrigation is normally required for both aesthetic as well as functionalpurposes. Schools, of course, depend on their sporting fields and ovals being kept in goodcondition and this maintenance can require large amounts of water.There are many ways ground staff can minimise the amount of water required to irrigateovals and sporting fields:1. Reduce irrigation periods gradually over time and visually monitor the impacts toensure the health of the irrigated area is maintained.2. During and after rain and in cooler seasons, manually intervene in or override theprogram cycle of existing automatic irrigation systems.3. Irrigate only in the evening or early morning, not during the heat of the day, and notduring windy conditions.Garden irrigationIrrigating gardens, vegetated plots, and minor grassed areas can also consume largequantities of water. Much of this consumption may be unnecessary, particularly ifirrigation practices are inefficient or ineffective.1. Most small irrigation systems in schools are domestic-style systems connected to ahose cock. Do not leave them on unnecessarily and unsupervised for extended periodsof time.2. The most popular types of small systems in schools have been microsprays, these aredesigned for greenhouses and are inefficient for outside use.3. Change from a microspray irrigation system to a dripper type system incorporating atimer control to reduce water consumption significantly.4. Irrigate only in the evening or early morning, not during the heat of the day, and notduring windy conditions.5. Mulch all garden beds to reduce water evaporation and improve the soil6. Plant native and endemic plant species which tolerate drought and can thereforesurvive with minimal watering.CleaningSome cleaning activities at schools require significant quantities of water. In most casesthough, changing some cleaning practices will reduce the quantity of water consumed.Using hand-held blowers, sweeping with a broom, or minimising the number of days hosing,could change the practice of hosing down walkways daily.Use a bucket, mop and other appropriate equipment to clean toilet blocks rather than justhosing them out.46