A message from Bernie, to start our May TRF Challenge!

As we start to see the impact of global climate change and the water shortages caused by it, it’s incredibly important that we all treat water as a precious resource, not something to be taken for granted. New Zealand has already suffered water shortage crises caused by storms and droughts in the past and scientists project these occurrences will only become more frequent in the future. So here are some top tips to make you smarter about how you use your water. Turn off the shower when you lather/sink when you brush It may seem small but it all adds up. Doing this can save thousands of litres of water in the long run. So give it a go for a few weeks; you may find the habit come easily enough! Fix household leaks Again, doing this can literally save thousands of litres each year. Leaky taps, showerheads, toilets, and ceilings all waste water and potentially cause a health hazard. So if you have the means to, make sure those leaks are sealed up nice and tight! Conserve Energy Electricity uses an enormous amount of water to generate so any savings that can be made there go a long way, especially the power used to produce hot water. Turning off lights, hanging clothes out to dry, and handwashing dishes all make a difference. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Do you really need that cheap $10 t-shirt? Could you not get that used car instead of the showroom fresh model? Why not buy second hand! Not only will you probably end up with something better and more stylish, if we all bought used items more often, we’d be saving hundreds of billions of litres at the production end of the stuff we buy! Not to mention - rather than buying new plastic bottles every time you need to quench your thirst, reuse your current one. Better yet, buy a stainless steel water bottle that will stand the test of time. Watering Your Lawn This is a big one. Lawns, plants, hedges all need watering yet they can be such a source of waste if you don’t consider how you go about it. The good ol’ hosepipe in the hand is the best efficient alternative to any fancy sprinkler system. Otherwise, if you decide to use a spinker, make sure it’s a low consumption one and avoid over watering your lawn (as it’s bad for the plants too). Also, if you have the means to, using collected rainwater is a much greener alternative than using water from the mains. So there you have it! Five easy ways to reduce your water footprint. And though they may seem small, if we all do our bit and take part, we can make an impact on the condition of our planet.

One of the greatest health benefits of drinking water and keeping hydrated is the impact on your hair and skin. Your body is made up of approx 60% water, and your skin is your body’s largest organ, so it makes sense that water is going to affect it in a huge way! When your body is lacking water, you may experience side effects such as... Being more susceptible to skin disorders (such as eczema, psoriasis, breakouts) Dry skin Your skin cannot eliminate toxins Premature wrinkling! Drinking water means your skin will have more elasticity and reduces the appearance (or early-onset) of ageing and wrinkles. You’ll also have a brighter, healthier complexion. Dehydration also affects the health of your hair and could result in... Dry hair that lacks volume and shine Frizzier hair More prone to breakage Dandruff on the scalp Keeping up your 2.5-3L of water intake every day is the best way to keep your hair and skin as healthy as possible.

While drinking 2.5-3L of water per day is important for your health, it’s not just in your bottle of water where you can find your daily dose of H20. Water can be found in many foods that we eat, which in turn helps us on our journey to increased hydration! Adding or increasing these in your diet will help make a difference to your water intake and help decrease the chances of side-effects from dehydration (link to dehydration article). Here are some of the world’s most water-packed foods: Watermelon Strawberries Peaches Oranges Cucumber Broths and soups Celery Tomatoes Capsicum Spinach Lettuce If you’re getting a bit tired of the same old plain water, day in and day out, there are some healthy water “alternatives” that you could rotate between. The alternatives could be: Coconut water Flavoured water (try to pick one with which has zero preservatives, sweeteners or calories) Aloe water Watermelon water