Getting waterwise

Who would have ever imagined that water, or the prospective lack of it, would become the focus of our daily lives? It used to be only the British who talked incessantly about the weather, but now every Capetonian you meet is anxiously staring skyward in the hopes of seeing a cloud. Sunday afternoons are spent decanting water from drums at the foot of our downpipes into 5l plastic bottles, which are then strategically placed around the garden for easy watering. My upper arms have lost their flab and I can now carry two 10l bottles in each hand and climb a flight of 13 stairs without raising my heartbeat. That might have something to do with all the hiking I do, but the upper body strength is definitely a bonus. I would imagine gym memberships have fallen off somewhat.
We bought a 5000 litres jojo tank in 2016, not because we thought we needed it at the time, but because it was going cheap (nobody was buying them) and we have plenty of space. It only weighed 60kg when empty and was easily moved by one person, but the sheer bulk of it was a logistical nightmare as it had to be taken from the front of the house, down the side between trees and a wall, over the back lawn and up the other side of the house, also under trees. By using a railway track made of planks, we slid the huge tub easily along the route, just making it under the trees without trimming, and brought it to its final resting place - a sturdy concrete foundation we had just built. This was in December 2016.
It took nearly 9 months for the tank to fill from the roof during the winter of 2017, which was almost non-existent, and we have used very little of it, except to fill 5 litre bottles and store them down the side of the house, with the occasional watering of plants. We have made it through the summer with the well (that only pumped for 10 minutes at a time and has been dry for a few weeks now) and the wellpoint. This is not a borehole - just a pipe into the ground until it reaches bedrock 8 feet down - and is fed by seepage from the mountain and pumps quite weakly but adequately to keep the garden going throughout summer, even though I only water for an hour twice a week for no particular reason other than I don't have any other time.
But even with all this water available, we have become acutely aware of how much we have wasted over the years and how little we actually need. It is our lifestyle and domestic situation that has made us used to opening a tap and accessing water for cleaning, cooking, washing and wasting. Our houses are filled with things that need constant cleaning. Our clothes need steam for ironing. Windows need washing - although in Kommetjie one is not looked askance for dirty windows - it's the sea air! Cars need washing otherwise it looks as though you don't care. Now dirty cars are a status symbol. Long may it last.
For me, the biggest adjustment has been reducing shower time - I who have long regarded a hot shower as being the ultimate luxury in life, especially standing under it until the water runs cold. No more. I can now use 8 litres including washing my hair! This is easy while it is summer, but I don't think I will be so happy in winter - and I think these restrictions will last through winter at least.
Will have to just toughen up.