Amazing Forbes

In rural areas like Forbes we get our water from a number of sources:

• Surface water – This is the water you can see. Surface water comes from rainfall that collects on the surface of the ground becoming runoff. This runoff drains to lower points to form waterways, such as creeks, rivers, lakes and dams, that make up our river catchments. For our town and our farms to thrive we need to deliver this water through channels and pipes.
• Groundwater – This is the water that seeps into the ground and collects in spaces within rocks. The water comes to the surface in natural springs and seeps, or can be brought to the surface using wells and bores. Groundwater makes up natural underground waterways often referred to as aquifers.
• Rainwater harvest – This is the water that we can collect directly from rainfall. Rain that falls on structures like houses and sheds can be collected and stored in tanks, dams and ponds. The roofs of these structures act like mini catchments collecting rain and draining it into guttering and pipes that can be directed into storage facilities like rainwater tanks.
• Town water – This water is supplied to Councils by local water authorities. The Councils store and treat the water before delivering it by pipelines to the homes and businesses in the town areas.
• Reuse water – This involves capturing water that has been previously used and reusing it. This water can come from any number of sources and can be treated with filters, chemicals and ultra-violet (UV) light to ensure it is safe for use in homes, factories, farms, parks or gardens.

In rural areas water is used for many different purposes:

• Domestic water – includes all water used by people for drinking, toilets, washing machines, sinks, bathrooms, gardens, pets and anything to do with our households.
• Shire water – includes all the water that is used by our town Council to make Forbes a habitable place. It is used for our ovals, parkland, town gardens, nature strips, swimming pool and any other places maintained by the Forbes Shire Council.
• Stock water – is used for the sustenance of farm animals. All farm animals need access to drinking water to survive. The amount they drink can depend on their food sources. Stock eating dry foods (such as hay) will need to drink almost twice as much as those eating rich wet grasses. Other influences of water consumption include warmer weather, pregnancy and milk production.
• Irrigation water – is used for the irrigation of broad acre crops such as cotton, wheat and rice and horticultural crops such as fruit and vegetables and fodder crops such as Lucerne hay and pastures. All these irrigated products contribute greatly to the economy. Competition for water resources means that sustainable and efficient irrigation is becoming extremely important. The development of new water saving technology is playing a major role in helping farmers be more efficient with their water use.
• Recycled water – this water can come from rain or irrigation runoff on farm paddocks. The water drains to a dam on the farm and then is recirculated back for use on farm crops.
• Water for the environment – is water that is allocated and managed specifically to improve the health of rivers, wetlands and floodplains. This is very important to maintain our natural areas and support our native plant and animal species. Rivers, creeks and wetlands play a vital role in sustaining healthy communities and economies. Water for the environment also increases river and wetland health which supports connections to Country for Cultural purposes.
• Industry water – is used to supply industries and businesses with their water requirements so they can operate and make rural towns a thriving place

Water is one of the most precious natural resources to rural areas like Forbes. With the effects of climate change making weather patterns more unpredictable it has become increasingly important for us to all work together to save water and become more sustainable.

Some ways you can save water and become more sustainable are:

AWA Water Educator’s Toolkit
www.awa.asn.au/documents/AWA_Water_Educators_Toolkit_Final.pdf

WaterNSW – Using less water
www.waternsw.com.au/water-quality/education/learn/using-less-water

Smart Water
smartwatershop.com.au/tips-and-ideas

Discover Water
www.discoverwater.org

Australian Water Association – Teacher Resources
www.awa.asn.au/AWA_MBRR/Publications/Teacher_Resources/AWA_MBRR/Publications/Teacher_Resources/Teacher_Resources.aspx?hkey=91f1122b-4409-40da-9e3b-afb80981dbc0

Water on Earth – A Primary Schools Water Resource
www.globaleducation.edu.au/verve/_resources/gep_primary_water_resource_aug12_nsw.pdf

• It is good for your health – digging, planting and weeding are a form of moderate-intensity physical exercise that burns calories, lowers blood-pressure and strengthens your heart. This exercise has also been found to be good for your brain by having a positive effect on cognitive skills, like memory.
• Brings people together – gardening can be a great healthy activity for the whole family. It can also be something that can bring together neighbours, friends and like-minded people as produce and gardening tips are shared. Our town even has the Forbes Riverside Community Garden, that brings a whole range of people together to enjoy the benefits of gardening. There is also the Forbes horticultural and garden club whose motto is ‘Friendship through gardens – Dig in and celebrate’.
• Reduces stress – research shows that gardening can reduce stress by helping reduce anxiety and depression.
• Provides shade and shelter – trees, bushes and shrubs can protect us from the sun, wind and rain.
• Attracts wildlife – native gardens are great for our biodiversity. They attract native insects, birds and other animals that rely on them for food and shelter to survive.
• Helps us sleep – being a moderate-intensity physical activity, gardening works a variety of muscles and tires us out making it more likely that we get a decent sleep.
• Strengthens our hands – gardening is an activity in which we use our hands a lot and it can both strengthen hand muscles and keep them flexible.
• Soil is good for us – exposure to the bacteria in soil can help increase our immune system and prevent younger children from developing some allergies.
• Some sunlight is good for us – gardening gets us outdoors and into the sunlight. Exposure to sunlight helps us get the vitamin D our bodies need. Vitamin D increases the bodies calcium levels which is good for our bones and immune system.
• Growing food means healthier living – growing our own encourages healthier eating as we benefit from the minerals and vitamins of our produce.
• Growing food saves us money – growing fruit and vegetables means we don’t have to buy them from the supermarket
• Time for reflection – gardening is used by many as a time to relax and reflect on issues. By reducing stress and letting our minds wander we can often think clearer about our life and make better decisions.
• Provides an escape – gardening can also provide an escape for many people, where nothing else matters but getting lost in the task and having satisfaction in what we create.