W
ithmorefrequentand
longer-lastingperiods
ofdrought,increasing
watercostsandagrowing
populationthat’sputtingdemandsonwater
supplies,waterrestrictionsarebecoming
apermanentpartoflifeacrossAustralia.
Amongthefirsttofeelthepressureof
waterrestrictionsaregardeners,aseven
low-levelrestrictionsaffecthowandwhen
gardensarewatered.
InWesternAustralia,waterrestrictions
arenowalwaysinforce,butarecalled
guidelines,notrestrictions.Andinsome
inlandtowns,severewaterrestrictions
havebeeninoperationformanyyears.
Allthisfadesintothebackgroundwhen
youhaveyourownwatersource–literally
ontap–intheformofawatertank.
Watertanksarereadilyavailableand
comeinallshapesandsizes,sotheycan
beincorporatedintoevenasmallgarden.
Whiletheyaren’tcheap–pricesfora
small,200Lpolytankstartat$150–they
areinvaluable,astheyallowgardeners
Aswaterbecomesascarcer
resource,weneed tocollectandcherish
everydrop.JENNIFERSTACKHOUSEsteps
throughthe processofinstallingarainwater
tanksoyoucankeepyourgardengrowing
PHOTO
ISTOCK
WATER
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GARDENING AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2019 49
NEW SERIES