Christmas thoughts and preparations usually revolve around family, food and presents rather than saving water, but that doesn’t mean we can’t keep our water use under control while enjoying the festive season each summer.

The reality is that Australia is the driest continent on Earth and we have to treat water as the precious commodity it is. With some thought and little effort, we can conserve water at any time without making huge lifestyle changes or sacrifices.

So, to start with, here are some quick ways to save water when entertaining:

• Use curtains to keep out the sun and a fan to move the air rather than turning on an air conditioner or evaporative cooler
• If washing vegetables, wash in a tub that can be emptied onto the garden or compost pile
• Serve directly onto plates instead of serving platters so there are fewer dishes to wash
• Have a container ready for plates to be scraped into rather than rinsing them
• Put cutlery into a sink of very hot water then into a draining rack. Then there is more space in the dishwasher for other dishes and the not-so-hot water can be used for washing things that can’t go in the dishwasher. It also saves detergent, and yes it hygienically cleans the cutlery
• Consider dry flower or fruit arrangements instead of filling large vases with water for fresh flowers
• Use wine glass charms or another method to distinguish glasses so people can use the same one instead of washing glasses all day
• Drink less juice and processed drinks and more tap water
• Eat more vegetables and less meat. Did you know that it takes approximately 50,000 litres of water to provide you with one piece of steak?

When selecting and preparing gifts, at home or at business, the following tips may be useful:

• Use reusable wrappings such as a tea towel, table cloth, hanky or scarf – this saves energy and waste products as well as water, and is a practical part of the gift as well
• Give some water saving items as gifts – a tap timer, an efficient shower head, water granules for the garden, garden mulch, waterless car cleaning products or a shower timer are inexpensive, practical gift ideas
•  Many plants don’t like being transported around and planted during the heat so consider a nursery voucher so the plant can be bought later in the year – maybe add a personal voucher offering to help plant it, too
• Aim for quality rather than quantity in gifts. That could mean joining with someone else to buy a more substantial gift
• Choose gifts that will have enduring appeal rather than this year’s fashion (also known as next year’s  landfill)

Precious water is a Melbourne based company supplying rain water tanks that a re flexible enough to fit under your house or decking. That way, not only do you have enough water to care for your garden, but you don't lose any garden space to the tank. precious Water tanks are made to order to fit your requirements, so visit us at www.preciouswater.com.au and ask how we can help you conserve water today.