There are ways and means to get water to your most precious plants, although it may be time to confront the fact that some plants which were never really meant to grow in such a dry continent might have to be allowed to fade away gracefully.

Mary, a sustainable gardens expert, suggests many water-hungry plants that have traditionally been seen in Australian gardens might have to make way for more hardy types, particularly natives. But she suggests that now is not the time to rip them out and replace them.

"Those of us in drought and living under water restrictions just need to get through the summer as best we can," she says. "Whether that means using grey water or rainwater, or mains water through dripper lines on the days allotted according to the rules. Then, when the weather cools down and the rains hopefully come, that’s when we need to start working on soil preparation and deciding which plants need to go and which ones to replace them with."

This doesn’t mean you can’t have exotic plants, even ones that require a certain amount of water to prosper. It merely means you need to group those types of plants together and ensure that you water them regularly. And how to water them? In these days when water is as precious as gold, it’s especially important to get your irrigation systems right.

"Dripper systems are the best," says Mary. "There are a few different forms on the market, but all of them direct water slowly and gently to the places where the water’s most needed, and nothing is lost as spray to wind or evaporation."

Although only scant scientific research has been done on the long-term effects of grey water on soil structure and plant health, it’s too precious a resource to waste, and there are a number of methods that can be used to direct your used water to your garden. This might mean buckets in the shower, diverting water from your washing machine, or setting up fully fledged grey water systems with tanks and pipes and hoses.

Always engage a professional plumber to set the systems up: using the wrong equipment could cause damage to your washing machine or even flood your laundry.

Also keep in mind not to use grey water directly onto food plants, and that sodium and phosphorus levels in your detergents might influence whether you should use the water on your garden – if in doubt, seek advice on this issue.

Contact a gardener in your area to find out how you can improve your outdoor area for the hot months.