I'M the first to admit I've never been much of a water saver.

But when stage four restrictions were introduced in Geelong back in 2007, I was forced to change my habits dramatically.

I took buckets into the shower so I could keep a few plants outside alive, the showers were cut, and I just had to accept that my lawn was going to die.

Geelong's situation was dire with 14 per cent water storages,...