Water Efficiency 2017 Water Key Online Tips Home Business Efficiency Garden 2017 Schools Educational Programs

Published Monday 7 August 2017 Commissioned by Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) Offers $ Rebates

Authors Allison Herbert Showerhead Sean Gutierrez-Schieferi Exchange Program (Research, Smart Approved WaterMark) Chris Philpot (CEO, Smart Approved WaterMark) Audit Residential

Audit Business

Audit School

Smart WaterMark Supporter

Promotes Smart WaterMark

Cover: Meet Benita, Environment Manager at Westernport Water, whose work contributes Member of to the conservation and protection of water Smart Water resources, and to the well-being of the planet Advice and our community Foreword

Using water wisely will always be part of the water security equation in Australia. With many established programs across the country, water utilities continue to help About the Water customers reduce their water use. The Services Association benefits for customers and the community are many including reduced water and energy of Australia costs and deferring the need for large-scale The Water Services Association of Australia water supply infrastructure. (WSAA) is the peak body that supports the While we saw the peak of expenditure Australian urban water industry. Our members on water efficiency programs during the provide water and sewerage services to over Millennium Drought, this report shows water 20 million customers in Australia and New utilities around Australia are still investing in Zealand and many of Australia’s largest a broad range of initiatives from online tips industrial and commercial enterprises. through to rebates and audits for residential WSAA facilitates collaboration, knowledge properties and businesses. sharing, networking and cooperation within While this report demonstrates the breadth the urban water industry. The collegiate of water efficiency initiatives around Australia, approach of its members has led to industry- we also hope it will encourage collaboration wide advances to national water issues. in the industry through sharing of knowledge WSAA can demonstrate success in around water efficiency education. standardising industry performance monitoring and benchmarking, as well as many research outcomes of national significance. The Executive of the Association retains strong links with policy makers and legislative bodies and their influencers, to monitor emerging Adam Lovell, Executive issues of importance. WSAA is regularly Director, WSAA consulted and its advice sought by decision makers when developing strategic directions for the water industry.

For more information visit www.wsaa.asn.au

WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 3 About Smart Boy tips greywater on the garden Approved WaterMark

Smart WaterMark’s vision is of a world that interactive resources designed specifically to is aware of, and actively engaged in, the help water utilities and councils provide water efficient use of water. It aims to achieve this saving advice directly to their customers. by: Smart Water Advice includes a website with over 30 pages of water saving information • identifying the best, innovative, water for the home, garden and business sectors, saving products, services and processes in interactive resources such as a plant finder, as Australia and overseas to help consumers well as images and videos to help encourage make the right choice on purchase pro-water saving behaviour change. • providing a wealth of water saving Additionally, on behalf of members in the advice, tips and interactive resources to Centroc and Lower Macquarie Water Utilities encourage pro water efficient behaviour Alliance, Smart Water Advice is producing a change television commercial to encourage people • working closely with stakeholders and to save water outdoors. Membership of industry to ensure water efficiency is Smart Water Advice currently includes every embedded into Australian society. water utility in Victoria, the Victorian State Government and 29 councils in NSW. Established in 2006, Smart WaterMark certifies through its qualified Expert Panel. For more information on Smart Approved The Panel comprises leaders across the WaterMark visit www.smartwatermark.org many sectors represented by the scheme – garden, irrigation, pools, car washing and other water saving products and services. Its accreditation process is unique, credible and robust aiming to innovate, seek out and identify the best products on the market. Chris Philpot, CEO, Smart Approved Currently, it is the only international water WaterMark efficiency scheme, operating across Europe and Australia.

In 2016, Smart Approved WaterMark launched Smart Water Advice – a vast online platform filled with tips, actions and

WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 4 Introduction

Australia has a long history as a water customers, encourage water conservation conserving nation. As a hot, dry country and tackle demand management. The it has regularly suffered cycles of severe report mentions all the major water providers droughts and floods leading to fears about across Australia including water utilities and water security and an understanding of the councils. need to save water. The report draws on information from the The 10-year millennium drought drove water water utilities’ websites, meetings and utilities to promote ways to save water feedback from water utilities. This report is by through encouraging behaviour change, no means a complete list of all the activities offering rebates for the installation of water that water utilities or others have been involved efficient products and enforcing restrictions in, but aims to feature a selection of the around water use. Australian water utilities excellent work the sector is taking forward in arguably set the benchmark for water promoting water efficiency to its customers. efficiency knowledge and engagement Smart Approved WaterMark appreciates all worldwide. the feedback from stakeholders whilst writing this report. However, investment in demand management during the drought also drove innovation in the form of dual reticulation supplying recycled water and desalination plants. This means that cities in Australia are now considered ‘drought-proofed’ by some. Yet water efficiency remains critical to Australia by the water planners and a base level of water efficiency activities is essential to ensure we are protected for future climate change scenarios. However, since the drought broke, funding for water efficiency has been reduced meaning that rebates and other water efficiency programs have been scaled back.

This report aims to identify the current state of play with regards to water efficiency as of July 2017. It details key initiatives water utilities and councils are undertaking to engage with Washing the car with recycled water in a Melbourne suburb

WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 5 TWEED SHIRE COUNCIL

NAMOI WATER ALLIANCE

TAMWORTH REGIONAL COUNCIL MIDCOAST WATER

LOWER MACQUARIE WATER UTILITIES ALLIANCE HUNTER WATER CENTROC SYDNEY WATER

SHOALHAVEN CITY COUNCIL ICON WATER NEW SOUTH WALES

WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 6 Centroc Hunter Water Central NSW Councils (Centroc) is a voluntary collaboration of Councils representing over 200,000 people covering an area of more As a State Owned Corporation (SOC), Hunter than 50, 000 sq kms comprising the Local Water services almost 600,000 people in the Online Tips Member of Home Government Areas of Bathurst, Blayney, Smart Water Lower Hunter. Under the Hunter Water Act Busines s Advice Garden Cabonne, Cowra, Forbes, Hilltops, Lachlan, 1991, it provides customers with drinking Schools Lithgow, Oberon, Orange, Parkes, Upper water, wastewater, recycled water and Lachlan, Weddin and Central Tablelands Water. stormwater services. Educational Programs Centroc has undertaken extensive work on Hunter Water’s premier community outreach urban water security over the past decade program features School Education Programs completing the National award winning Centroc directed at a range of grades and age groups. Water Security Study (CWSS) in 2009 which The preschool and stage 1 level for example identified a range of water security solutions program - Smart Water Advice. This program features a fun, educational show called the for the Central NSW region and recommended is designed to help water utilities and councils Bubbles and Supa Squirt Water Saving the adoption of an integrated program of water provide water efficient resources at low cost Show as well as accompanying materials efficiency and conservation measures as the to their customers. Members of Smart Water for teachers. Each stage of the program basis for a region-wide water conservation Advice gain access to a range of online offers a unique experience for students of and demand management strategy. Following resources to help customers save water at all grades to learn about water conservation these recommendations, members committed home, in the garden and in the workplace. through different methods. Hunter Water also to a unified approach to the sustainable delivery Resources currently include tips and advice, runs school tours of a purpose-built water of water supply and sewerage services and to a plant finder, factsheets, posters and a education centre, with students learning achieve and maintain best practice. video library. why water is so precious and practical conservation tips. The company’s dedication The Alliance provides support to member Centroc member Councils continue to to inspiring students does not stop there, as it Councils in meeting best practice in water implement water conservation and demand also has interactive projects and competitions and sewer management and in achieving management strategies both locally and such as the Water Catchers Competition Watering the garden using a trigger nozzle cost savings and efficiencies in asset regionally with Councils such as Orange City meant to promote waterwise awareness. management, infrastructure development Council considered a national leader with At the individual school level, Hunter Water and in the implementation of water efficiency its award winning state-of-the-art work in provides Smart Metering that utilises an and large industries. Tools such as a form measures. It does this through a regional stormwater harvesting. In 2015 the Centroc electronic device that measures water use in for reporting waterwise rule violations and procurement program, mentoring, sharing of Water Utilities Alliance committed to a water- real time and sends alerts of possible leaks so multiple online water usage calculators knowledge and resource sharing. loss management program to save water that water loss can be avoided quickly. allow Hunter Water to ensure customers do and reduce energy cost developing a Water everything possible to conserve water. The Most Centroc members have joined Smart Loss Management Toolkit which has been The website features tips for saving water company also promotes rainwater tanks and Approved WaterMark’s water efficiency distributed to Councils throughout NSW. around the home, garden, business place water efficient showerheads.

WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 7 Icon Water Lower Macquarie Icon Water (formerly ACTEW Water) has been operating in the Australian Capital Territory Water (ACT) for over 100 years. The business provides roughly 45 gigalitres (GL) of water Online Tips Utilities Home Member of and treats 29GL of sewage each year. Garden Smart Water Alliance Advice During the Millennium Drought, Icon Water focused their efforts on developing a range of educational tools to help residential Educational Programs The Lower Macquarie Water Utilities Alliance customers gauge and reduce their water (LMWUA) is a coalition of the Councils located use, such as online water saving tips and a within the Lower Macquarie and Castlereagh water use calculator. Icon Water promoted Promotes River Valleys. Formed in 2008, the Alliance schemes including WELS and Smart Smart now has 13 councils: Brewarrina, Bogan, Approved Watermark to help customers WaterMark Bourke, Central Darling, Cobar, Coonamble, find the most efficient products and utilised Gilgandra, Mid-Western, Narromine, Walgett, highly visible signage on water levels to keep Warren, Warrumbungle Shire Councils and customers aware of water use. wisely with implementation of the Permanent Dubbo Regional Council. LMWUA was Water Conservation Measures. Icon Water also undertook a research project created to promote cooperation and resource that involved converting a primary school’s Icon Water has an ongoing community sharing amongst the member councils to oval into a turf and irrigation monitoring site. education program, including guided tours work together and aim to provide the best The Grass Roots Turf and Irrigation Research and discussion of the urban and natural water management for their communities. Project was created to determine the most water cycle, and a community support The councils remain committed to providing a efficient watering regime for turf and the program which supports a range of “unified approach to the sustainable delivery results were used to make irrigation and turf organisations and events. The company’s of water supply and sewerage services”. management decisions throughout Canberra. effort to work with the community earned it a Management Plan, and Regional Integrated Together, the councils have created a It was determined that it is possible to use up Community Action Partnerships and Culture Water Cycle Management Plan. Since the multitude of plans to help benefit the to 40% less water when watering lawns. Award in 2014 from Keep Australia Beautiful Alliance is also a member of Smart Water region and make water use more efficient. ACT Sustainable Cities. Advice, the member councils are able to After the nearly eight years of water For example, LMWUA’s resource sharing utilize their online resources to provide water restrictions, water consumption in ACT Although continued water efficiency is program allows the application of water efficiency information at low cost to their dropped to 47.8GL which is a 39% savings important for the largest inland city in restrictions to be uniform throughout the customers. As a result, many of the councils compared to 1993-2002 levels. Since then, Australia, the success of Icon Water’s Water area. It has also created a stormwater have seen increasing community awareness water use has not returned to the pre- Security Projects during the Millennium harvesting strategy as well as various other of water conservation programs and a drought levels. Icon Water continues to Drought have ensured long term water plans to increase sustainability including decrease in household’s average potable assist the Canberra community to use water security for the Canberra region. a Regional Environmental Plan, Drought water use since 2011.

WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 8 MidCoast Namoi Water Water Alliance MidCoast Water, a division of MidCoast Council, operates within the Manning, Great Online Tips Home Member of Lakes and Gloucester communities of New The Namoi Water Utilities Binding Alliance Smart Water Advice South Wales. It delivers 8 billion litres a year (Namoi Water Alliance) was formed in July to 40,000 households and collects 6.8 billion 2013 to jointly exercise the service functions litres of wastewater treated in 20 sewage and of provision, management and operation of Educational reuse facilities. Programs water and sewerage works and facilities. The Namoi Water Alliance is composed of the With the Our Water Our Future Strategy, following councils: Gunnedah Shire Council, an integrated water cycle management Liverpool Plains Shire Council, Tamworth strategy, the council tackled current issues Regional Council, Uralla Shire Council, and proposed solutions. A main criterion Walcha Council and Narrabri Shire Council. of the plan aimed to reduce water use through various methods. Smart metering, One of the first group projects undertaken by rebate schemes, price changes, replacing the Water Alliance was a review of all Drought some drinking water with stormwater, and Management Plans and restriction policies reducing leaks were all considered under the regarding water use in the area. This project plan. In terms of water recycling, their stated led to all Water Alliance members adopting 2015 goal was to “increase the percentage a regional approach to Water Restrictions of recycling over the next 30 years – either Teachers are offered resources such as a incorporating a Level 1 to 5 Framework by implementing an Indirect Potable Reuse school water audit template. The company but with different triggers for each level. It scheme or expanding recycled water provides guided tours, guest speakers and also ran a media campaign to support the agricultural irrigation or both”. community sponsorships. The education regional approach. This campaign allows for program reaches more than 1000 school water conservation when most needed. As a One method being currently implemented children each year. In terms of the public, member of Smart Water Advice, the council is to reduce water demand through MidCoast Water has a ‘summer water is also able to give its members online community education and behavioural savers’ voluntary program to help residents resources such as water saving tips for the change programs. By offering innovative be waterwise during the summer through home and garden that can easily be passed school programs featuring fun activities like tips and promoting WELS. The Saving on to consumers. shows by Whizzy the Waterdrop MidCoast Together program is uniquely aimed at the Water actively engages the community tourist industry to help visitors reduce water at a young age. Activity books, colouring use during their stay. It offers members of sheets and posters all offer creative ways the tourist industry stickers and hangers with to teach children about using water wisely. waterwise reminders.

WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 9 compensation for the leak given that there Shoalhaven is “supporting documentation that the water leakage was repaired immediately”. This program allows customers to fix serious City leaks without worrying about the cost, saving Council significant amounts of water. The Reclaimed Water Management Scheme (REMS) aims to “maximise the Online Tips As a part of Shoalhaven City Council, $20,000. This program also includes a tap use of reclaimed water for beneficial Home Garden Shoalhaven Water supplies over 96,000 re-washer program, which allows customers purposes rather than disposing of it into the environment”. This is done by distributing the people with services throughout the city. to significantly reduce water usage. By recycled water to the region’s farmers as well Services include collecting, treating and continuing to offer up to $500 for rainwater as local sporting facilities and golf courses to distributing water as well as collecting tank rebates, the company provides Educational treating and disposing of wastewater. increase sustainability. Programs substantial incentive for customers to Shoalhaven Water offers numerous rebates become more waterwise. Shoalhaven Water In addition, Shoalhaven Water promotes the to financially assist customers pay their also conducts residential water audits upon reduction of water use in businesses as well as residential areas. The company promotes Offers water bill and promote water conservation. request in order to help customers assess $ Rebates Pensioners are offered a rebate as well as a their usage and suggest ways water use downsizing water services and even Payment Assistance Scheme to financially can be reduced. Its Undetected Leak Policy reducing water connections for businesses. Its site also demonstrates how much money disadvantaged customers with a budget of promotes water conservation by providing could be lost due to a leak and provides Audit information on how to prevent and check Residential for leaks. Further waterwise behaviour is encouraged through the utilization of online water saving tips for home. The company Promotes Smart has also created the Tapstar Waterwise WaterMark Education Program to teach primary school students the importance of water conservation through various community activities. These can include plant tours, shows, teacher resources and an interactive children’s website. Through event funding and community sponsorship, Shoalhaven Water has been able to engage the community in water conservation, going so far as to fund the Shoalhaven Environmental Expo.

School children learn what should and shouldn’t go in the toilet

WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 10 Sydney Water

As a state-owned corporation, Sydney Water the promotion of greywater use through either operates across Sydney, the Blue Mountains, manual bucketing, diversion or treatment. Online Tips and Illawarra. It provides 1.4 billion litres of Home An innovative tool to promote water use Garden fresh water a day to 2 million customers. awareness is its water efficiency target With 14 water recycling plants, the company tool. This tool helps households gauge their manages to recycle about 121 ML of water water use depending on the size of property, a day, reducing demand on freshwater time period and number of residents and Educational supplies. This allowed Sydney Water to compares it to averages which can bring out Programs exceed their yearly target with 43,300 ML a competitive nature in many and promotes of recycled water supplied during the 2015/ less water use. 2016 year. The company also managed to fall Smart For businesses, Sydney Water supplies an WaterMark below their leak upper limit of 121 ML a day. Supporter array of tools including water saving tips The Building Sustainability Index (BASIX) and supporting water recycling and re-use. mandates that all new homes be more water It also offers businesses Water Management and energy efficient than average and also Meetings to track water use, compare Offers $ Rebates applies to refurbishments above $50,000. it to similar companies and recommend The online assessment tool allows customers improvements. By determining a benchmark to compare the targets with current building measure for each individual business, it plans. Often, rainwater tanks or water saving is easy for customers to gauge their water appliances such as showerheads, taps or use by determining a key business activity toilets need to be installed to meet the criteria. indicator (KBAI). In addition, it also offers In addition to this program, Sydney Water best practice guidelines for different business offers discounts of $50 a year for stormwater types and a rainwater calculator to help them services to encourage customers to take learn how much money and water they could advantage of the sustainable supply of water. save. For schools, Sydney Water offers a primary school and high school program The company delivers the WaterFix service, a including curriculum, site tours and a self- plumbing service delivering residential water conducted school water audit guide. efficiency by conducting leak checks, fixing leaks and installing WELS rated products. Sydney Water also offers online water saving guides for the home and garden including Girl waters plants efficiently using meter reading, leak check instructions and rainwater

WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 11 Tamworth Regional Council

Online Tips Home Business Tamworth Regional Council began in 2004 Garden as a collaboration between Barraba, Manilla, Nundle, Parry and Tamworth. The council oversees a population of 58,000 and supplies Educational water and sewerage services to the region. Programs

Over the past three years the council has spent nearly $50,000 a year on internal development with the goal of water sustainability. The Offers $ Rebates council created the Water Sustainable Strategy 2011- 2014 which earned them the 2011 SaveWater Award. In 2016 the council Promotes continued to show their dedication to water Smart sustainability by funding a $675,000 project WaterMark aimed at creating a bore water system to irrigate sporting facilities with alternate water sources instead of potable water. Tamworth Council also offers outreach Various programs offered by the council programs to engage the community in water give residents the chance to save water and money. The Residential Water Saver Rebate saving efforts. After becoming a member of Scheme offers to pay for up to 50% of the Smart Water Advice, the council was able to purchase and installation cost for water easily offer water saving tips for the home, efficient products such as rainwater tanks, garden and business place. The council pool covers, dual flush toilets and low flow website also updates the water supply levels showerheads. The scheme is set to run until weekly so that customers can easily keep the year 2020. If a resident’s water meter is track of water availability and change water use found to have stopped working, it will be accordingly. Tamworth Regional Council is also replaced for free. It also stipulates that any a member of Sustainability Advantage, a NSW reduction in water charges due to an internal Government program assisting organisations leak must prove that the leak was repaired. across New South Wales to achieve increased This ensures minimization of water loss while competitiveness and improved bottom lines Launch of the public waterwise not putting a financial burden on the customer. through better environmental practices. garden in Tamworth

WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 12 Tweed Shire Council

Online Tips Home Business Garden The Tweed Shire council was formed in 1947 Schools after the consolidation of Murwillumbah and the Shire of Tweed. It delivers over 52 services to 90,000 residents along the north coast Educational of New South Wales including water and Programs wastewater services.

The council is dedicated to environmental Audit sustainability including maintaining Business water security through various demand management strategies. Target 160L was recently introduced to reduce residential Offers water consumption to 160 litres a day. $ Rebates Tweed Heads Bowls Club Although the residents of Tweed have reduced water consumption by 22% since 2003, the target was lowered from 180L to 160L after Showerhead for dams as well as rainfall trends. Younger Tweed Shire Council works with businesses water use began to rise again. Tweed Shire Exchange Program residents are reached through the to ensure sustainable water use through free Council is commended for the ongoing target Environmental Education Program which water audits as well as helpful water saving program to conserve water. This target is educates students about water management tips including creating a water conservation augmented by a rebate scheme that offers Member of issues through tours and presentations. strategy. The Tweed’s Top 20 water users $100 or 50% off the cost to purchase and Smart Water Advice were provided up to $5,000 funding to go install approved water saving devices such as Further water demand management programs towards water saving works. The program showerheads, tapware and aerators. Online ran from 2015 to 2017. These included funding was expanded to the Tweed’s Top 100 and tools such as home and garden waterwise Smart for water saving projects undertaken by a further 37 businesses took advantage WaterMark tips, a daily water use calculator and a DIY Supporter businesses, improvements to water metering of the $1,000 funding offered to complete home water audit help residents reach their and monitoring to prevent leaks. The council’s water saving projects. Council has also 160L target by encouraging waterwise focus on sustainability was rewarded in 2010 audited its own Top 20 water using sites and behaviours. Furthermore, residents can for the Bray Water Treatment Plant which won funded projects such as a new, water efficient easily gauge how much water is being used an Excellence Award and the GHD Award irrigation system at the Council nursery. The in the region with easily accessible water for Innovation in Sustainable Engineering council continues to work with businesses one consumption facts and water supply data Excellence. on one to implement sustainability measures.

WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 13 NORTHERN TERRITORY

POWER AND WATER CORPORATION

WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 14 were conducted to help customers identify Power opportunities to save water. An Irrigation Makeover campaign encouraged over 300 and Water homeowners to book free water efficiency consultations and the winner received $1500 Corporation worth of services that saved over 50% of their water use through adjusting irrigation schedules. The campaign also attracted an Online Tips astonishing 12,500 website views. Home Power and Water Corporation became Business Garden Living Water Smart’s Water Efficiency Officer taking the first government owned corporation of Schools After 700 home water efficiency consultations students from Jingili Primary School on a water walk the Northern Territory in 2002. It provides to look at irrigation and leaks as part of the That’s My it was found that the top two water wasting a range of services including distributing Water! curriculum unit areas in Darwin households are leaks and electricity and delivering water and sewerage overwatering gardens, so campaigns are Educational services across the Northern Territory. Water Programs now focused on these issues to help save is distributed across 1.3 million square the most water. Living Water Smart now ovals had water smart irrigation technology kilometres through 3012 km of mains. offers Darwin homeowners and businesses systems installed resulting in 80 million litres a free Garden Tune Up and rebate where a of water savings and leak detection in more It has a multitude of ongoing projects aimed Audit local irrigation specialist will set an efficient Residential than 200km of large water mains and other at conserving water throughout the region. watering schedule and fix small irrigation pipes resulted in the repair of over 50 leaks, By improving operational efficiency, installing leaks. water meters and encouraging water ultimately saving 300 million litres. efficiency in the community, Power and Water To combat leaks, Living Water Smart also Alice Water Smart also encouraged community is taking great measures in the area of water introduced a Leak Checking program similar engagement with the Water Champion conservation. In Alice Springs, through its to that run in Alice Springs, with the addition designation, which honoured individuals who Alice Water Smart initiative, Power and Water of a $200 Leak Find and Fix rebate. It has went the extra mile to conserve water. dedicated $10.4 million to the Alice Springs been found that around one in ten homes Water Reuse Projects. This innovative project In October 2015, a dedicated Leak Week has a leak. So far, 22,000 leak checks have stops overflows from waste stabilisation project identified leaks in one in five Alice been conducted with the average leak size ponds by treating the water in a Dissolved Air Springs homes after conducting quick checks being 500kL per year. Power and Water Floatation Plant before pumping the recycled at almost 5000 home water meters, a program Corporation is acknowledged for making water into aquifers at the nearby Arid Zone that was the first of its kind in Australia. This tremendous strides in water conservation Research Institute. The 600 megalitres of had the potential to save 286ML per year, within the Northern Territory. recycled water produced a year is used for equivalent to 1.2 million wheelie bins of water. A new science-based year 5/6 curriculum horticulture and irrigation. In Darwin more water is being used than unit called That’s My Water! has also been Through the Alice Water Smart project, can be captured and supplied in the long launched in Darwin as part of Living Water more than 1000 households and businesses term. Power and Water’s Living Water Smart Smart. It allows school students to work identified over 900 million litres of water program aims to help the Darwin region save and learn alongside industry professionals savings after water efficiency consultations Leak Checkers conduct checks at household water water. Through this program, more than 700 to address the important local issue of meters in Darwin for signs of leaks, as part of Living and rebates. In addition, 72 parks and Water Smart, a Power and Water initiative. personalised water efficiency consultations sustainable water use.

WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 15 CAIRNS REGIONAL COUNCIL

TOWNSVILLE WATER

MACKAY REGIONAL COUNCIL QUEENSLAND

WIDE BAY WATER

UNITYWATER

REDLANDS REGIONAL COUNCIL

QUEENSLAND URBAN UTILITIES

LOGAN CITY COUNCIL

SEQWATER

GOLD COAST CITY COUNCIL WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 16 Cairns Regional Council

Online Tips Home In addition to administrative, waste and Garden recycling services, the Cairns Regional Council also supplies water and wastewater services throughout the city. While daily Educational usage per person has reduced over the Programs last decade, council continues to support demand management to ensure security of supply.

The council encourages residents to lower Group aimed at developing sustainable water usage in order to reduce their water strategies to ensure future water supplies bill and uses promotional videos to teach the as well as a Demand Management Strategy importance of conserving water to ensure (2016-2025) that suggests programs such future supplies and to maintain healthy as regulatory initiatives, intelligent water ecosystems as well as provide tips. Videos networks, water education programs and are colourful and fun which helps engage water efficiency upgrades and retrofits. audiences and promote viewership. The Implementation of these strategies has innovative Thrive campaign includes a user- included a $15.95 million contract for smart friendly, animated app called Survive and water meter rollout across the region covering Thrive to help residents create water efficient 55,000 residential and commercial meters. gardens by recommending waterwise plants and gardening tips. The app supplies The Cairns Regional Council’s education appropriate watering times, tips and water program is undergoing a significant restrictions. redevelopment comprising full teachers educational kits and student activities In addition to water saving tips for the home, aligned to the Australian Curriculum. These Cairns implements permanent water saving resources are aimed at water conservation measures such as specified watering times. in the wet tropics. Additionally, the council The council keeps customers up to date on funded the Environmental Sustainability water supplies by featuring dam levels on its Enrichment Program which gave year 5 website. In order to maintain water security, students the opportunity to apply science to the council has put together a Water Security develop sustainability initiatives. Cairns students are getting 'WaterWhys' with hands-on learning

WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 17 Gold Logan City Coast City Council

OnlineHome Tips Council Business Garden Schools The city of Logan is located between Brisbane and the Gold Coast and services City of Gold Coast’s (City) water and sewerage over 300,000 residents. The council delivers Home Educational Business network and assets are worth more than $3.6 clean drinking water and waste services to Garden Programs Schools billion and include a Potable Water Network the area. Since the population is expected to with over 3,233 kilometres of water mains grow by 200,000 over the next 20 years it is and a Sewerage Network. Although the City is critical that the council continues to promote Audit Educational the water and sewerage service provider, the Business sustainable water use to ensure future water Programs Queensland State Government owns the bulk security. potable water supply, which is operated by Seqwater. This includes the Hinze Dam, Little As a form of urban demand management, Offers Nerang Dam, Tugun Desalination Plant and two $ Rebates Logan City Council offers its residents water treatment plants. many resources to encourage waterwise behaviour. Its website features a section on The City currently supplies approximately 20 Member of sustainability and includes information on – 30 mega litres per day of Class C recycled Smart Water Advice how to become a sustainable household. This water to over 100 external and City of Gold includes reducing water use through simple Coast customers in the greater Gold Coast tricks around each room of the house. The area. The water is mainly used for the irrigation Smart website also includes detailed instructions of golf courses and sporting fields and service WaterMark Supporter on how to read water meters and check water to four sewage treatment plants. for leaks as well as measures one can take In order to help customers who have to prevent leaks from occurring. In addition experienced a concealed water leak at their long term behaviour change and protect to providing water conservation tips for the property, the City of Gold Coast offers Water infrastructure and the environment. home and garden, Logan City Council also and Sewage Leakage Relief given that the provides water saving tips for non-residential customer provides proof the concealed leak The School Water Saver Program is available customers such as businesses and schools. was repaired within two weeks of being online only and includes worksheets, lesson Education programs encourage sustainable identified. In return, there is an expectation plans, activity sheets and teaching resources behaviour in children years 1-7 with a variety that customers do everything in their power to for early childhood, primary and senior grade of lesson plans, activity sheets, websites and monitor water usage and act promptly to rectify levels. The lessons discuss water as a valuable printables. The council ensures the Logan damaged water infrastructure on their property. resource, the sources of water, using water community is aware that water is a valuable wisely under urban demand management, resource and must be used wisely. The City of Gold Coast continues to promote alternative water sources such as recycled water conservation in the residential sector, water and sustainability. Lesson plans for as well as implement community education grades two, four and seven align with the programs and campaigns that encourage Australian Curriculum. WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 18 Stephen Fernando, Manager Business Services, and Jason Devitt, Director Engineering and Commercial Mackay Infrastructure, receive the local government award for Digital Innovation.

Regional The ‘MyH20’ website provides customers with Council immediate information on water use and potential leaks.

monitoring devices that enable customers Online Tips Home Water & Waste Services is a commercialised to receive notifications about water use and Garden business unit of Mackay Regional Council potential leaks. The AMRs detected more which provides water services across 700 than 9,500 properties with potential leaks square kilometres of the region. During the since their installation. The installation of smart 2015/2016 financial year around 13,500 meters has given residents quick access to Educational Programs ML of water was supplied to over 115,000 their water consumption data, which they are consumers across 11 separate water supply able to access online through the ‘myh2o’ schemes. Additionally, almost 5,000 ML of website. The website allows residents to receive notifications on water use and recycled water was produced for use at 30 Audit potential leaks, via emails or SMS, prompting School local farms (sugar cane) and 2 public recreation consumers to engage in corrective actions. establishments. 11,500 consumers have signed up for the A demand management strategy was program, resulting in a significant increase in formed as a way to meet peak demand, the level of consumer engagement. a key component of which was to “raise Combined efforts have resulted in a steady awareness and educate the community on decrease in water consumption since 2013 water quality and conservation issues”. The including a reduction of 685ML in just one council achieves this through an integrated year (2014/2015-2015/2016). Daily per capita communication and education program using water consumption has reduced from around traditional mass media, social media and direct 240 litres per person per day (lpd) to just over engagement via school education programs. 200 lpd. Online tools available include home water saving tips, a “Plantasic” waterwise plant Mackay Regional Council’s Transforming a guide suited for local conditions, as well as a Water Business initiative earned recognition water conservation quiz. The school education from several organisations including awards program comprises of classroom visits, facility for Excellence in Local Government and Digital tours, children’s activities, fact sheets, videos Innovation in Local Government, as well as the and a school water audit program. Internal Water Association’s (IWA) Operations and Management Innovation Award for 2016. The water meter replacement program The Institute of Public Works Engineering integrated the use of Automated Meter Australia (IPWEAQ) also gave the project an Readers or AMRs, which act as smart excellence in innovation.

WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 19 Queensland Redlands Urban Regional Utilities Council Online Tips Home Garden Online Tips Home Under the South East Queensland Water Redland is located just east of Brisbane and Garden Distribution and Retail Restructuring Act has a population of 151,000 people. The 2009, Queensland Urban Utilities supplies Educational Redland City Council delivers drinking drinking water, recycled water and sewerage Programs water across 537 square kilometres Educational services to over 1.4 million people. Each through four different supply schemes: Programs year, the company delivers more than Amity Point, Redland City and Southern 136,000ML of water and removes and treats Moreton Bay Islands, Dunwich and Point over 110,000ML of sewage. Lookout. Redland’s water is bought in bulk Member of Smart Water from Seqwater. The council operates 7 Advice Demonstrating its commitment to wastewater treatment plants as well as 137 sustainability, Queensland Urban Utilities pump stations. has implemented a number of initiatives that promote efficiency and reduce waste. To promote waterwise behaviour amongst In 2013, the organisation began trialling residents, Redland City Council offers online TaKaDu, a software system that uses resources including water saving tips for the advanced statistics to identify leaks and instructions on how to conduct your own home such as fixing leaks or taking shorter pressure issues within the water network. leak test. The company also offers data showers. The website encourages rainwater The software provides alerts, reports and logging for businesses water meters in order harvesting with tanks using greywater, as well real-time data about the water system to to help them find leaks faster. Recycled as WELS and Smart Approved WaterMark prevent large-scale issues that may lead water is promoted as a viable option for efficient products. By offering instructions to high water loss. This program, along businesses as well. Water saving tips are on how to read water meters, customers with many others, has earned Queensland also provided for residents to use in their are able to easily monitor their water use. In Urban Utilities a spot amongst BRW’s top 10 homes and gardens. terms of water efficient gardens, the council innovative companies of 2015, as well as the recommends efficient irrigation and sprinkler Australian Water Association Queensland Queensland Urban Utilities also supports systems. By providing external resources 2015 Program Innovation Award. broader community organisations through such as Smart Water Advice, the council sponsorships including the Tangalooma effectively provides residents with the tools The company also goes to lengths to EcoMarines, an environmental leadership necessary to reduce their water consumption. communicate with the public about water education program. Site tours and saving measures. Their website includes community events also help actively engage easy steps on how to read a water meter the community in the water industry in South and check for leaks. It includes detailed East Queensland.

WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 20 SeqWater

Seqwater is the Queensland Government’s statutory authority responsible for ensuring Online Tips Home a safe, secure and cost-effective bulk water Garden supply for 3.1 million people across South East Queensland. In addition, Seqwater provides irrigation water to 1,200 rural customers and manages parts of the natural catchments of the Educational Programs region’s water supply sources. Seqwater works in partnership with SEQ water service providers Unitywater, Queensland Urban Utilities and the water operations of the Redland City Council, Logan City Council and the City of Gold Coast. prospect of drought. Drought response actions are linked to the combined volumes of the The Water Security Program is Seqwater’s plan region’s water storages and include operating for providing the region’s drinking water over the the SEQ Water Grid for resilience and, as a next 30 years, including during times of drought community, adjusting water use as required. and flood. In March 2017, Seqwater released version 2 of the Water Security Program which In order to keep South East Queenslanders included a revised drought response plan. The informed of water storage levels, Seqwater program is adaptive and identifies ways for provides detailed information on the water Seqwater to respond to changing influences levels of 25 of the region’s dams. Seqwater’s and sets triggers for implementing options 2017 Autumn Water Outlook outlined measures or reviewing and changing the organisation’s that need to be taken to prepare for another response. While responses are planned in drought, including water saving tips for the advance, investment decisions will be based home and garden. The organisation also delivers on conditions at the time and depend on what a comprehensive water education program options have been previously implemented. and online portal called Up a Dry Gully, aimed at primary and secondary school teachers and The Millennium Drought in South East students. Learning experiences are held at major Queensland resulted in a significant decrease Seqwater dams and water treatment plants and in water demand and although the drought has cater to primary and secondary schools, TAFE concluded, water use levels are still significantly and university groups, as well as professional lower than pre-drought conditions. The Water delegations and community groups. Seqwater Security Program details a drought response also has annual Water for Life community plan that introduces a drought readiness grants of up to $10,000 for projects or initiatives phase to help better prepare the region for the supporting water education and awareness. Installing shower timer

WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 21 Students from Annandale Christian College learning about the coastal processes of Townsville Rowes Bay, Townsville Water

The average household water use in Online Tips Townsville is amongst the highest in Australia, Home with a significant proportion of approximately Garden 70% used outdoors. This high consumption is due to the dry tropical climate which is characterised by a long dry season, high pan- Educational evaporation and over 300 days of sunshine Programs per year.

Townsville Water, a business unit of Townsville City Council, provides water and waste services to the Townsville community. Council has been working with the community since 2009 to reduce residential water consumption as it represents tangible costs savings for been effective and is demonstrated by the Council. ‘water drop’ graphic on the council’s website. The graphic displays the city’s daily water The Townsville Water’s Future Residential usage target of 100ML and provides daily Outdoor Water Conservation Program aims updates on community-wide water use. When to help residents reduce outdoor water use the target is exceeded, the water drop turns by identifying outdoor waterwise behaviours. red, signalling too much water was used. The Eventually a list of 71 behaviours was website also features an array of resources investigated, resulting in a focus behaviour to allow residents to reduce their water use. and top 10 behaviour list. The program A helpful video explains that saving water is implemented several pilot programs based on critical due to low water availability. the target behaviour that were aimed at saving water in the residential sector. Home and garden tips including a Lawn Tamer initiative, which promotes water efficient yards, Townsville is experiencing drought conditions and sustainable housing info kit offer unique and therefore has implemented water tools to residents. Eco-catchment education restrictions. As a result, their promotion of smart tours allow the community to really engage water use has shifted to restricting outdoor with the water cycle at a variety of interesting water use and promoting more efficient indoor sites and include activities to help community water use. The water restrictions regime has members understand the importance of water.

WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 22 Mother and daughter watering garden efficiently with a trigger nozzle Unitywater

Unitywater was established in 2009 by the Queensland Government in order to efficiently Online Tips manage the water supplies of South East Home Business Queensland. It provides water and sewerage Garden services to approximately 16% of Queensland’s population within Moreton Bay, Noosa and

Sunshine Coast. Educational Programs The company offers a variety of subsidies to help customers save money on water. The pensioner water subsidy, sponsored by the state government, offers up to $120 a year while the financial hardship Offers $ Rebates and medical condition concessions can help those who would otherwise struggle to pay the water bill. A concealed leak allowance can also be Smart granted to residential properties given that the leak WaterMark was repaired. The company has also started the Supporter process of helping customers better monitor their water use with AquaTrip digital meter trials.

In order to ensure the efficiency of its water network, Unitywater began a leak reduction program to prevent extensive water loss. The company began using TaKaDu in 2013 to monitor water to read water meters, check for leaks, access/use networks, identify leaks, and send alerts of water recycled water and conduct a self-guided water loss or inefficiencies. It would like to implement audit. An interactive map offers a unique way to this program throughout 90% of the water supply provide water saving tips for the home, garden and network. In addition to monitoring systems, office. The company also promotes water efficient Unitywater also conducts manual inspections and products and WELS in addition to rainwater leak testing. By cleaning the water main with a tanks, bore water and greywater. The education tactic called ice pigging, where ice slush is flushed centre offers resources and site tours. Financial down the pipes to remove sediment, the company sponsorships are offered to community members is able to conserve about half the water typically as well as private organisations such as the Healthy used for a regular pipe flushing. Waterways Sustainable Development Award, which actively encourages sustainable water By providing helpful online resources, Unitywater management. Unitywater received the Healthy is able to encourage waterwise behaviour in the Waterways Sustainable Education Award in 2014 community. The website features pages on how as a result of their community outreach efforts.

WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 23 Wide Bay Water

Online Tips Home Wide Bay Water offers water and wastewater Garden services to the Fraser Coast Region. The utility manages four water treatment plants and eight sewage treatment plants. In addition to fresh drinking water, Wide Bay Water also supplies Educational recycled water for golf course, cane field, turf Programs farm and hardwood plantation irrigation. By selling recycled water to third parties, the utility manages to conserve raw water sources. During the 2016/17 financial year, 98% of treated wastewater was reused beneficially on agricultural enterprises and some golf courses. Wide Bay Water continues to promote recycled water use in the non-residential sector. For example, one plantation installed a new irrigation system with five centre pivot irrigators that managed to improve reuse reliability.

The utility’s drought management initiatives have also proven effective in reducing water use. Water restrictions and water pressure management reduced peak daily water use by half during the very dry summer of 2016/17.

In order to help customers continue to reduce water use, Wide Bay Water offers the community a variety of tours, presentations and activities. In 2016/17 Wide Bay Water coordinated 90 waterwise events which reached over 14,469 people. Annually, the Water and Waste Wise Challenge incentivises younger generations to take part in saving water. In order to receive thousands of dollars’ worth of prizes, school children must create a project that “encourages others to reduce, reuse, and recycle water and waste”.

WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 24 SOUTH AUSTRALIA

SA WATER

WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 25 SA Water

SA Water is South Australia’s leading provider of issues, they’re saving significant volumes of water and sewage services for around 1.6 million water and money. Online Tips people. For more than 160 years SA Water has Home SA Water’s Community Relations team Business been working together with South Australians to Garden develops and delivers programs and services ensure a reliable supply of safe, clean water and designed to increase knowledge and a dependable sewerage system. awareness of SA Water across South Australia Educational In December 2016, SA Water began the and to build positive community relationships Programs installation of a trial smart network in the Adelaide and partnerships. CBD which will transmit real-time information Their suite of community activities, based on how the water network is performing. A on sharing information with the community combined 336 flow meters, pressure, water regarding water and sewerage services in South quality and acoustic leak detection sensors will Australia, are closely aligned with SA Water’s help detect leaks and bursts before they cause strategic objectives. These activities include a disruption to the community. Smart meters will formal student learning program Brainwave, also be installed at 100 large businesses to public tours of SA Water sites such as help them better manage their water use. treatment plants, presentations to schools and In addition to the smart network trial, SA Water community groups, ongoing key stakeholder also has smart meters available to businesses engagement discussions and a sponsorship across the state. Businesses currently using program. Giving the community an opportunity this service include Westfield, Adelaide Oval to get a behind the scenes look at SA Water SA Water’s Smart Meter at Adelaide Oval and Zoos SA. sites and voice their opinions to SA Water directly has resulted in the dispelling of some All customers signed up to the service pay an water myths and the development of forums areas of geography, sustainability and STEM Business Relations team develops strong affordable price for the installation of a data that educate the community on important (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths). relationships with their customers in order to logger on their existing water meter/s, which issues such as water efficiency. In addition, it More than 100,000 students have participated support business growth and development. sends water consumption information to an has led to awareness of the complexities of in Brainwave since it was established in 2009. The team also provides technical support and online portal. They can access the portal at water management and the development of SA Water’s Business Relations team supports information forums for customers aimed at any time, with data produced every 15 minutes ambassadors for SA Water. in a secure, easy to read and flexible format. major business customers by providing a helping them get the most out of SA Water’s The main benefit customers are reporting to SA Brainwave offers a series of workshops, tours central point of contact for all SA Water- products and services. This support can be in Water is an increased understanding of how and learning resources to school students related enquiries. By working together with the form of trade waste advice, leak analysis, they use their water. Many have been able to and teachers in metropolitan and regional these customers, SA Water gains insights water use profiling, cleaner production or use information from the portal to help identify areas of the state. The program supports into consumption trends as well as potential irrigation advice, and has proven to be greatly leaks or faulty equipment. By rectifying these the Australian Curriculum (year 7 level) in the increases or decreases in demand. The appreciated by SA Water’s business customers.

WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 26 TASMANIA TasWater

TasWater was created in 2013 after the consolidation of Ben Lomond Water, Cradle Online Tips Mountain Water and Southern Water. With Home Garden more than 200,000 water connections the company is able to deliver water services throughout Tasmania.

In order to encourage and support water Educational Programs conservation, TasWater offers an undetected leak rebate of up to 50% off the water usage amount over your average bill. However in order to claim this rebate, the company requires proof the leak has been repaired by a licensed plumber. This allows customers to repair water wasting leaks without fear of further financial burden.

TASWATER Informing the public on water efficiency measures is of great importance to TasWater. The company’s website offers various tools to help the public gauge and scale back their water use. Articles about how to read a water TasWater also offers community sponsorships, meter and information on how much water events and grants. Grants of $5,000 or leaks waste as well as promotion of the Save $2,000 can be offered to eligible community Each Drop brand, helps customers learn about organisations. The company also engages how making simple changes to the way they children through some classroom visits, use water can make this valuable resource teacher resources, presentations and site last longer. The Save Each Drop community tours. One significant contribution includes education program provides waterwise tips the TasWater Steve Balcombe Scholarship, for the home and garden which is augmented which offers a scholarship to full time students by an interactive house and garden water use studying engineering, environmental science calculator. TasWater has worked with the Royal or earth science at the University of Tasmania. Tasmanian Botanical Gardens to produce On the successful completion of their course, helpful videos and fact sheets about being recipients have the opportunity to participate in water wise around the garden. TasWater’s four year Graduate Program.

WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 27 LOWER MURRAY WATER VICTORIA

COLIBAN WATER

GM WATER GWM WATER NORTH EAST WATER

GOULBURN VALLEY WATER

CENTRAL HIGHLANDS WATER

WESTERN WATER GIPPSLAND WATER

CITY WEST WATER WANNON WATER YARRA VALLEY WATER EAST GIPPSLAND WATER

MELBOURNE WATER

BARWON WATER SOUTH EAST WATER

WESTERNPORT WATER

SOUTH GIPPSLAND WATER

WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 28 Schools Water Efficiency Department Program (SWEP) for The Schools Water Efficiency Program (SWEP) is a voluntary program open to all schools within Environment, Victoria. SWEP enables schools to continuously track their water and electricity consumption by Land, Water using data logger technology and data from digital electricity meters. The school’s data can and Planning be accessed by facility managers, teachers and students through an interactive website.

Facility managers, teachers and students Water for Victoria sets a new long-term direction water efficiency of all Victorian water customers can access up-to-date water consumption for managing precious water resources as through innovative and collaborative water information through an interactive platform they deal with the impacts of climate change industry practices. that delivers water consumption data in a and a growing population. The actions set out timely manner via a user friendly and functional in the plan support a healthy environment, a Current programs to promote water efficiency interface. Participating schools receive prosperous economy with growing agricultural in the urban water sector are: access to a tailored curriculum program, production and thriving communities. To which incorporates the school’s water data in meet the challenges of climate change and Target 155 and Target Your mathematics and sciences in a tangible and delivers water saving audits and rebates on population growth, the government will act Water Use realistic environment. It also provides students products aimed at reducing water lost through to ensure that the water system is efficient with robust water saving messages which they leaks and old appliances. and innovative. The plan gives prominence to Target 155 is a voluntary water efficiency can apply at home. some issues that haven’t been considered in program to encourage metropolitan Melbourne Urban Water Strategies and SWEP is currently monitoring over 900 the past, including Aboriginal and recreational householders to limit their consumption to 155 Drought Preparedness litres per person per day. Target Your Water schools and trials are underway monitoring 30 values of water. Use is a similar program for regional Victoria Department of Environment, Land, Water and All the Victorian urban water corporations have The Victorian Government will invest $537 but without a specific target. All Victorian water Planning offices and depot sites. recently prepared Urban Water Strategies for million over four years to deliver Water for corporations are participating in one of these the next 50 years. As part of the strategies, www.myswep.com.au Victoria. This includes $33 million investment water efficiency programs. each water corporation has prepared a Drought in programs to improve water usage, drought Preparedness Plan that sets out the actions target155.vic.gov.au preparation, urban water management and Community Rebates to respond to water shortages if they arise in understanding the value of water. targetyourwateruse.vic.gov.au Program for Vulnerable and the immediate to short‐term. These plans also Hardship Customers document the engagement water corporations Victoria’s urban water corporations and have been managing with councils and other Department of Environment, Land, Water and The Community Rebate Program is a targeted public open space managers to identify and Planning have been collaborating to deliver program to assist water corporations’ vulnerable assess important liveability assets that would on the vision for water efficiency outlined in and hardship customers. The program includes be impacted under water restrictions (such as Water for Victoria. A Victorian Water Efficiency a range of products and services to improve public open spaces, gardens and recreational Strategy is being developed to enhance the water efficiency in households. The program water bodies).

WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 29 Barwon Water

Barwon Region Water Corporation (Barwon Online Tips Home Water) is Victoria’s largest regional urban water Business Schools corporation. Barwon Water delivers high quality water, recycled water and sewage services to more than 298,000 permanent residents over Educational 8,100 square kilometers of the South West Programs coast of Victoria.

Barwon Water has implemented numerous voluntary water efficiency initiatives over the Audit Business years including WaterSecure water efficiency programs and Victorian state government programs such as the Living Water Rebate Offers Program which helped households and small $ Rebates Education Officer Fernando Garcia with Hamlyn Banks Primary School businesses purchase water efficient products. As a result, water consumption in Geelong in the early 1980s was greater than it is today, Showerhead Exchange saving projects. Approximately 370ML of businesses as well as ‘close to real time’ data despite the city’s population doubling since Program that time. The average household consumption drinking water, 10% of annual consumption, monitoring. Barwon Water delivers the Victorian in water has reduced by about 40% in recent will be saved annually in the district. state government Community Rebate Program decades. Member of for eligible hardship customers to help make Smart Water Barwon Water’s education program focuses on Advice their homes more water efficient, as well as the Recently, Barwon Water has focused on the need for efficient water use and maintains Target Your Water Use program. implementing the Colac Demand Management a broad audience of students, customers and Program (2013-18) to secure the water supply the community at large. This program reached Barwon Water’s Urban Water Strategy (2017) for the Colac District. The program consists over 8,500 students through site tours and in- describes how Barwon Water will continue of targeted demand management activities class sessions in 2016. A residential program to deliver secure and sustainable water and for key customers. Activities include an promotes awareness and education of water sewerage services over the next fifty years. innovative On-Farm Leak Detection Program efficient behaviour and includes a showerhead The strategy acknowledges the importance of using Taggle Technology, a Residential Leak exchange program. Two managers provide water efficiency as part of sustainable water Detection Trial using the same technology, services to major water using business management and commits to water efficiency grants for agricultural customers to implement customers including enhancing awareness initiatives to provide insurance against short water substitution projects and grants for of water efficiency issues. The company also term changes in demand as well as future manufacturing customers to implement water provides audits and water efficient products for uncertainty.

WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 30 Central Highlands Water Online Tips Home Business Garden Central Highlands Region Water Corporation dual-flush toilets, washing machines and a (CHW) is a regional water corporation providing variety of rainwater tanks as well as continuing high quality drinking water, sewerage, trade to provide a free showerhead exchange program for residential customers. Educational waste and recycled water services to customers Programs in Ballarat and surrounding towns. CHW provides The corporation similarly promotes water water supply and sewerage services through saving behaviour through various methods, 67,022 water supply connections and 57,448 including educational programs and awareness Offers wastewater service connections to 141,530 $ campaigns. CHW supports the Schools Water Rebates people. It provides fully integrated catchment-to- Efficiency Program, SWEP, which aims to find tap-to-catchment water services. It is one of 19 leaks and save water and takes a whole-of- state-owned water businesses operating under Showerhead water cycle approach to promote sustainability Exchange the guidance of the Water Act 1989 (Vic). Program education in schools. Additionally, CHW has a During the millennium drought, CHW delivered variety of awareness campaigns about drinking a number of successful water efficiency tap water and caring for the environment. Promotes Smart programs, ranging from residential customer Recently, it commenced an extensive community WaterMark home retrofit programs to partnering with large engagement program called Let’s Talk Water to non-residential customers in implementing ensure the community is aware of simple actions major water efficiency projects. It supported everyone can take to use water wisely. Member of Smart Water Victorian Government rebate programs for Advice CHW is recognised for their collaborative work home-owners and businesses. Unfortunately, building support in Victoria for Smart Approved reduced government funding has caused those WaterMark’s program – Smart Water Advice. programs to terminate. The web-based facility provides CHW and other Currently, CHW is leading the development of Victorian water corporation customers with the new Ballarat Integrated Water Management a range of information on saving water in the Plan and encourages and supports local home, garden and workplace. CHW has also government water efficiency programs, with been acknowledged for their dedication to water close engagement with the City of Ballarat. efficiency as a finalist in the 2011 Savewater Central Highlands Water is acknowledged for Awards in the category of ‘outstanding innovation their commitment to creating the Daylesford and achievement in water conservation and Ballarat Begonia Rebate Program that offers rebates for mulch, efficiency’. Festival Bottle Fill

WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 31 City West Coliban Water Water

Online Tips Online Tips Home Home Garden Business Owned by the Victorian Government, City West The Coliban Region Water Corporation, Garden Water provides drinking water, sewerage, trade or Coliban Water, provides services to waste and recycled water to customers in approximately 160,000 people in central and northern Victoria. Originally established Melbourne’s central business district, inner and Educational Educational western suburbs. An array of programs has Programs in 1992 under the Water Act 1989, Coliban Programs prompted a 20% reduction in water use per Water became a corporation in 2007 with the person since 2005. Victorian Government as a stakeholder. Offers Offers City West Water is acknowledged for their $ Rebates As a member and promoter of Smart $ Rebates promotion of Target 155 which is a voluntary WaterMark, Coliban Water has programs program that aims to limit water consumption available to help customers conserve water. of Melbourne residents to 155 litres per person Showerhead They promote water saving tips as well as Member of Exchange Smart Water per day. To help residents reach this goal, the Program provide resources to various other water Advice company offers a toilet replacement program efficiency programs such as the Water and showerhead swap. Along with valuable Efficiency Labelling and Standards scheme, a Member of Smart Garden waterwise plants guide and a Promotes programs, consumers can easily learn how Smart Water Smart to conserve water through City West Water’s Advice regional Victorian scheme to help households WaterMark website which offers a range of helpful tools. conserve water called Target Your Water Use. It also clearly displays the permanent water It stresses the importance of saving water and saving rules as well as water restrictions. provides an easily accessible page of water and recycled water to 100% recycled water in The community water rebate program and restrictions and rules dedicated to conserving 2017. Under the Victorian Government, City showerhead exchange program offered by water. The website also provides a multitude West Water promotes a not-for-profit water and the Victorian Government is also promoted. of water saving tips for the home and garden sewage rebate offered by the state government. as well as instructions for using rainwater In the business sector, City West Water offers an Coliban Water’s community outreach program mitigating water loss continues through an and greywater and finding and testing leaks. installation program to reduce waste water and helps teach the local community about the ongoing leak detection and water mains The sustainable gardening page promotes also offers them wastewater recycling services importance of water sustainability with school replacement program as well as a program at rainwater tank installation as well as using and rainwater harvesting. visits and in-class activities. The program the water treatment plants aimed at reducing mulch to reduce water evaporation. There is is believed to have reached about 1400 water loss. The Harcourt Rural Modernisation also an online washing machine audit tool to City West Water also provides a range of students across 35 different schools. Project has succeeded in making rural water help customers choose more efficient products. community programs including presentations delivery in that system more efficient. Other and teacher resources. Community groups can There are multiple ongoing projects aimed rural systems are currently being assessed The West Wyndham Recycled Water project aims also access in-kind support in the form of CWW’s to increase water efficiency. The Water to identify further opportunities to save water. to deliver class A recycled water to the western mobile water fountain. As a member of Smart Reticulation Program reduced water lost The company also supports Integrated Water suburbs of Melbourne. It plans to change the Water Advice, City West Water is further promoting through bursts and leaks by renewing various Initiatives around the region to promote supply of water from a mix of drinking water community awareness of water efficiency. water mains. Coliban Water’s dedication to efficient water use in urban areas.

WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 32 East Gippsland Gippsland Water Water Online Tips Gippsland Water provides services to over Online Tips Home Home Business 65,000 customers within Central Gippsland. Business Garden Garden East Gippsland Water serves an area of 21,000 With its $1 billion infrastructure network, the square kilometres in the far southeast of Victoria. company manages to provide high-quality It provides water harvesting, storage and urban water, waste water and waste recovery services water supply services, as well as wastewater Educational across more than 5,000 square kilometres. Educational Programs Programs collection, treatment and recycling services, to The corporation offers the community helpful around 35,000 people. The corporation also water saving tips for the home, garden and provides trade waste services to commercial Offers workplace. It also promotes Target Your Water customers. $ Rebates Use with the intention of having residential The East Gippsland region is a key natural asset customers use 183 litres per person per day. A in Victoria. As a result, water and wastewater variety of other programs offered by the Victorian Promotes services are managed with an ongoing Smart government such as the Hardship Program commitment to protecting the environment. The WaterMark and various rebate schemes are also easily corporation is a leader in the Victorian water accessible through Gippsland Water’s website. industry for water recycling, often achieving In terms of water restrictions, the corporation Member of 100% beneficial reuse across its 11 wastewater Smart Water has an effective plan to communicate measures Advice treatment plants. This recycled water is used on for saving water. As a member of Smart Water pastures, woodlands, tree plantations, wetlands, Advice, the company has proven its dedication golf courses and Bairnsdale Racecourse. towards creating a water efficient community.

As a member and promoter of Smart Water Gippsland Water has created a Water Advice, East Gippsland Water offers the Management Action Plan (waterMap) as community tips for saving water in the home, designated by the state government to reduce garden and business. It actively promotes the commercial and industrial water use below 5 Target Your Water Use voluntary water efficiency million litres. The plan entails strategies to use program and the Schools Water Efficiency water more efficiently by identifying how current Program (SWEP). It also provides an extensive customers can save water based on their use. program of free educational presentations and If a company has less than 200 employees, tours for the region’s schools and community they can access the Resource Efficiency Assist groups. Program to receive free services.

WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 33 GM Water GWM Water

Goulburn Murray Water or GMW provides Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water (GWM water management services to regional Water) operates in the Grampians, Wimmera Victoria and prides itself on being Australia’s and Mallee regions. It provides urban Online Tips and rural water supplies, wastewater and Home largest water authority. They provide a wealth Educational Garden of data and information about the status of Programs reclaimed wastewater across 60,000 square water resources including an annual water kilometers. Wastewater services are mainly outlook report and measures of expected provided to larger towns which may use inflow rates to catchments, demonstrating the recycled water for a variety of public Educational Programs the company’s devotion to corporate attractions such as sporting fields, parks and transparency. The information on storage gardens as well as vineyards and agriculture. levels is increasingly helpful for customers and The company’s vision is one of “sustainable growth, a healthy environment, and vibrant Audit researchers to determine how much water Residential availability there should be in the present and communities”. near future. GMW’s website also features GWM Water’s website includes an entire an interactive water level mapping tool, section on water conservation. With regards Offers further facilitating the public’s understanding $ Rebates to water restrictions, there are multiple of current water levels. This hard data also helpful guides to help customers understand provides the academic community with a their water limitations. It also includes a helpful tool to conduct research on water Showerhead section of how to check for leaks as well as Exchange catchment and use trends. information on how much water most home Program appliances commonly use. Further tips are To promote innovation, the company offers the provided by Smart Water Advice. Water audit Hold Rural Award which seeks to “recognise without their organisation, GMW is making Promotes kit and showerhead exchange programs are and reward Victorian rural water users that strides in water efficiency within their own Smart offered to customers. The company also WaterMark have developed or adapted clever ideas organization. The $2 billion AUD Connections offers a gardening guide by a local garden that have led to better water use outcomes, Project offers a new efficient water delivery consultant. GWM’s community outreach delivering or having the potential to deliver system to the residents of the Goulburn Member of extends to kid’s activities as well as teacher Smart Water water savings or greater productivity for their Murray Irrigation District. The project is divided Advice resources to promote water knowledgeability. business”. This prize has incentivized local into multiple phases, the first and second It promotes the multitude of Victorian water water users to develop creative water efficient phase of which are set to save over 400GL of saving schemes such as the Target Your methods of irrigation in rural areas. The 2016 water per year. The previous irrigation system Water Use as well as the living Victoria and state winners boasted water savings of 1.5 was prone to leakage, evaporation, inefficient community rebate programs and the water ML per hectare of irrigated land. metering and unsanctioned use resulting in water losses upwards of 900GL. The project is tariff reduction. These tools help GWM Water In addition to promoting public awareness of set to be completed in 2018 and is believed to provide their customers with the effective water availability and promoting innovation increase water delivery efficiency to over 85%. tools to conserve water.

WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 34 Goulburn Valley Water Online Tips Home Business Goulburn Valley Water (GVW) provides water Garden and wastewater services to 54 towns from the outskirts of Melbourne in the south, to the Murray River in the north. It operates 37 Educational water supply systems and 26 wastewater Programs management facilities. Notably, the regional administration office managed to reduce corporate water consumption by 38% during Promotes Smart the 2015-16 financial year compared to the WaterMark previous year.

In addition to conserving corporate water Member of use, GVW works to conserve water with Smart Water Advice its industrial, business and residential Goulburn Valley Water Educational Program customers. A Water Supply Demand Strategy considers water usage and water availability for a 50 year period and identifies any potential future shortfalls in the supply- Through creative community outreach tool. GVW customers are encouraged to demand balance. With the help of an Urban techniques, Goulburn Valley Water has follow Permanent Water Saving Rules all year Water Strategy, Water Conservation Strategy managed to spread awareness of water round. The rules encourage efficient and and Drought Response Plans, GVW also conservation measures. The creation of sensible use of water without significantly identifies the best mix of water conservation the Community Waterwise Display Garden restricting customer choice and flexibility. measures to address any supply shortfalls. was a unique way to demonstrate what a GVW worked with expanding industries to water efficient garden could look like. The GVW’s community and education programs encourage water conservation, recycling and garden assists the community to better offer tours and informational seminars that system optimization. In addition, in 2015-16 understand what plants are water efficient include water efficiency. Tap Water Tykes and around 90% of recycled water produced at for three different garden types. In addition the primary school programs focus on the GVW wastewater management facilities was to promoting programs such as Target Your water cycle, water treatment, water use and reused as irrigation water for farmers and Water Use and Smart Water Advice, GVW’s water conservation. Goulburn Valley Water is to irrigate community areas including golf website helps customers detect leaks and acknowledged for its exceptional community courses. calculate their water usage with an online outreach program.

WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 35 Tap Man and Toothpaste girl joined LMW recently during National Water Week with students from around the region to learn about water issues. Lower Murray Water Online Tips Home Business Garden The Lower Murray Urban and Rural Water Authority provides urban water, wastewater Educational services, treatment services, irrigation water Programs and the collection and disposal of subsurface irrigation drainage water. It operates under the Water Act 1989 covering the municipalities of Offers Mildura, Swan Hill and Gannawarra. $ Rebates

Lower Murray Water currently operates at nine water treatment plants and heavily promotes Showerhead Exchange schemes that integrate reuse of treated water Program in order to reduce water extraction from the Murray River. Water reuse is also utilised from Promotes the Koorlong Wastewater treatment plant and Smart WaterMark is then used for agricultural and amenity supply. In addition to minimising irrigation waste, Lower Murray Water is also making irrigation more Member of Smart Water efficient with the Sunraysia Modernisation Advice Project. The project successfully modernised the irrigation systems of multiple regions by upgrading pump stations and regulators, replacing channels with pipelines, and utilising have made innovations in sustainable water smart metering systems. The upgrades led to use in rural areas. The Dripster’s Super Water water savings of over 7GL per year. Saver Education Program helps promote water conservation among the younger generation The company also promotes water conservation through fun activities like games. In addition, within the community by offering product the company offers classroom presentations exchanges for items like showerheads and with accompanying curriculum activities and trigger nozzles where households can replace site tours. As a member of Smart Water Advice, inefficient products with water wise ones. the company easily communicates water saving Lower Murray Water also collaborated with tips to its customers through its website. Lower multiple organisations to hold the 2016 Rural Murray Water has shown exceptional effort on Water Awards which celebrated those who the part of promoting water efficiency.

WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 36 Melbourne North East Water Water

Melbourne Water treats and supplies drinking Online Tips North East Water works as a retailer that Home Online Tips and recycled water, removes and treats most of Garden on-sells water to 41 localities in North East Home Schools Melbourne’s sewage and manages waterways Victoria from Goulburn-Murray Water. It Garden and major drainage systems across the Port provides water and sewerage services to an Phillip and Westernport regions. estimated 107,000 people. Educational Programs Educational To Melbourne Water, water efficiency means The Leneva-Baranduda Whole of Water Programs using the minimum amount possible to Cycle Management Plan was created in support an activity, without compromising 2016 to promote growth by determining the the desired outcome or the liveability of condition of the future water supply and by Audit Melbourne and surrounding regions. exploring the use of alternative water sources Residential including recycled water and stormwater for Melbourne Water supports water efficiency irrigation. Currently, North East Water delivers through a range of initiatives. These include Promotes over 2,830ML of reclaimed water to various Smart supporting the Victorian Government’s Target systems including schools, parks, golf WaterMark 155 program, which encourages households courses and agriculture so that the whole to keep their water use below 155 litres per community may benefit. Within the region, 8 Member of person per day. Melbourne Water regularly Smart Water towns were able to achieve a 100% reuse Advice publishes information on water resources rate for recycled water. and water use, including average water use per person per day, and provides advice To promote water efficiency, North East Water to the community through their website on offers a Leak Rebate to customers who education programs incorporated school saving water at home. experience underground leaks that may cause visits and activities, site tours and student higher than normal water usage. This rebate resources. Teacher resources include Each year, Melbourne Water works with will cover the cost of a plumber to inspect worksheets, kits and a tournament activity stakeholders to publish the Water Outlook, and fix the leak up to $1000. By offering this to fully engage students. School visits which reviews water resource availability and rebate, the company incentivises customers resulted in participation from 2,400 people updates a list of water supply and demand- to fix leaks they might otherwise ignore. related actions, including water efficiency while broader community presentations and initiatives. Water efficiency is also supported More broadly, Melbourne Water actively The company also created an array of events managed to reach over 700 people. through membership in the Alliance for encourages greater utilisation of rainwater, environmental and sustainability campaigns, The company also supports efficient use of Water Efficiency, and through the delivery of stormwater and recycled water so as to one of the most notable of which is water at schools by promoting programs like education programs that encourage water reduce the depletion of valuable drinking H2knOw which promotes water efficiency the School Environment Education Directory efficiency to schools and community groups. water resources. and permanent water saving rules. These (SEED), SWEP and ResourceSmart.

WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 37 with high water bills and provided tips to keep South East bills on track during warmer weather was viewed almost 500,000 times on Facebook by customers in its service area. South Water East Water supports Target 155, a Victorian Government initiative to use less than 155 litres of water per day, through webpage Online Tips South East Water supports healthy and The utility has successfully utilized online articles, bill messaging, social media tips and Home Business liveable communities by delivering water, community outreach methods. Its award- articles in local council newsletters. Garden sewerage and recycled water services to winning education website averages 14- It also works closely with business and 1.7 million people across Melbourne’s south 16,000 hits per month and provides resources agricultural customers (some of its highest east. It maintains 24,700 kilometres of to educate and engage kindergarten, water using customers) to help them manage Educational water and sewerage pipeline across 3,640 primary and secondary students about Programs water wisely. Resources include a webpage square kilometres. Population in its service water efficiency. This includes online videos, to assess the operational efficiency of area is set to double by 2065 and changing posters, games and books. It also offers cooling towers, a benchmarking service that climate patterns are also placing stress on online water saving resources for the home, compares water use to other businesses of Offers its precious water supplies. To help manage garden and business as a member of Smart the same size and industry and an online $ Rebates this uncertainty, the utility actively pursues Water Advice. During summer 2016/17, calculator that demonstrates financial payback activities that promote water efficient South East Water’s three-part video series on expenditure related to water efficiency. behaviours, programs and technologies. where real customers linked high water use Promotes To better understand customer insights and Smart plan for new advances in technology, South WaterMark East Water also participates in research such as determining whether digital notifications Member of and customer access to real-time water Smart Water use data has an impact on behaviour. The Advice findings will be necessary in creating new digital platforms to effectively influence customer water use.

The utility’s recycled water network helps reduce pressure on drinking water supplies, providing an alternative water source when drinking water is not needed. To expand the network it works with local councils and, uniquely, is collaborating with Villawood Properties on Aquarevo, a water-sustainable estate where homes will be plumbed for fit- for-purpose water use and feature water- saving technology. SE Water customers with a Smart Monitoring device to view real-time water use

WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 38 South Gippsland Water Online Tips Home Business Garden South Gippsland Water provides water By focusing on children’s education and sewerage services to 1,234 square programs, South Gippsland Water is ensuring kilometres of South Gippsland. In the a generation of smart water users. It provides Educational 2015/2016 year, over 4,950ML of water was free presentations, site tours, teaching Programs supplied across 10 different networks and resources, ebooks and games. The Water 4,300ML of wastewater was treated. Aware program focuses on developing young leaders by attending an activities workshop, Through state rebate initiatives, the company creating a presentation and presenting their Offers $ Rebates has provided customers with a $48 reduction work at a gala. The company also supports in water bills per year from 2014-2018 and SWEP to allow schools to monitor their water provided financial assistance to individuals use. and organisations. During the 2015/2016 Showerhead Community outreach through information Exchange financial year, $30,500 in rebates was offered Program sessions, workshops, advertisements and to help customers access water efficient website tools also encourage members of the products. Concession and instalment plans public to be waterwise. The H4O or Help for are also currently being offered to eligible Promotes Water Efficient Organisations provides non- Smart card holders. A water audit program to WaterMark profit organisations with financial support further assist vulnerable customers has of up to $500. The funds can be used for been implemented during 2016 and the water efficient products such as rainwater Member of water efficient showerhead swap program Smart Water tanks, irrigation systems and plumbing Advice continues to be implemented as well, repairs as well as for educational purposes. allowing residents to conserve significant As a promoter of Target Your Water Use amounts of water. and member of Smart Water Advice, South Gippsland Water provides customers with The Poowong, Loch and Nyora Sewerage helpful tools to conserve water. Scheme managed to treat 100% of effluent which was then reused for industry and agriculture in the region. In the last financial year, 221ML of recycled water was used for irrigation on agricultural land and recreational Korumburra Primary School grounds. students as part of SWEP

WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 39 Wannon Water

Online Tips Wannon Water supplies water services to Home Business 36 cities across 23,500 square kilometres Garden of southwest Victoria. According to the 2015/16 annual report, per capita water use in the region has declined by 34% since 1996 Educational and they hope to reduce water demand by Programs 600ML by 2018.

Wannon Water has produced an Urban Promotes Water Strategy which spans 50 years and Smart WaterMark aims to further reduce the per capita water consumption through education, assisting Warrnambool Roof Water Harvesting System high consumers and reducing fixed charges. Member of Smart Water The strategy reveals a mix of integrated water Advice solutions including further reducing system water losses and using recycled wastewater In order to reduce water demand, the for Warrnambool. These homes will form instead of potable water where possible. corporation has also undergone measures an urban catchment within the city where to increase public awareness about water water will be treated for urban drinking water Various water recycling plants help reduce conservation through school and community use. By working with the Warrnambool City demand of drinking water throughout the education programs. Activities and games Council, the corporation has managed to region. The Warrnambool Water Reclamation are geared towards children, while tours, expand the initiative to capture roof water Plant used 145ML of recycled water. The presentations and teacher resources can from the Gateway Park industrial subdivision. total amount of recycled water produced be accessed by the entire community. As during the 2015/16 financial year was Water collected from the shed roofs will be a supporter of Smart WaterMark, Wannon 1,728ML, representing 19.3% of treated pumped into the adjacent water storage Water provides customers with water saving effluent. Some recycled water also went to basin. When fully developed, the roof tips for the home, garden and business. local industries such as the Mortlake Power water harvesting approach is expected to Station and the Iluka Resources Mineral Wannon Water’s flagship initiative is the provide an additional 585ML a year to the Separation Plant, however most recycled Warrnambool Roof Water Harvesting system, city. The residential Roof Water Harvesting water was used for agricultural purposes. which will collect rainwater from 3,300 project was recognized by the AWA 2012 An ongoing soil and groundwater monitoring houses in the north-east growth corridor of Victorian awards and also received the 2011 program ensures the recycled water is being Warrnambool. The rainwater collected will Savewater! Award in the Australian Achiever managed sustainably. be used to supplement other water sources category.

WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 40 Western Water

Western Region Water Corporation, trading Western Water sponsors 42 local schools as Western Water, is one of Victoria’s 13 to take part in the Victorian Government’s Online Tips Home regional urban water corporations, providing Schools Water Efficiency Program (SWEP). Business Garden water, recycled water and sewerage This is 61% of schools in the region – the services. It delivers services to around highest participation rate of any Victorian 64,000 properties across a service region of water corporation. The program, which 3,000 square kilometres to the north-west of involves attaching a data logger to the Educational Programs Melbourne. school’s water meter, has saved $345,000 and 176 million litres of water over the past Recycled water is currently supplied to more four years through identifying and fixing leaks. than 100 non-residential customers, saving Member of Community and environment groups and an estimated 4,900 million litres of drinking Smart Water schools are also supported to reduce their Advice water through substitution in 2015-16 alone. water use and carry out sustainability projects These customers include local councils through Western Water’s annual Water Week and schools watering sports grounds and Grants program. In 2016, a total of $30,000 agribusinesses such as vineyards and olive was granted to 15 organisations. groves. In 2015-16 Western Water produced 10,848 million litres of recycled water, 83% Western Water’s award-winning education of which was re-used. Under its Integrated program aims to create a new generation Water Management (IWM) Strategy, Western of water savers through classroom Water has a goal of 100% beneficial reuse of presentations on water conservation by recycled water. trained educators. The program reached almost 8,000 students in 2015-16 at Western Water actively works with its non- primary and pre-schools across the region. residential customers in other ways to reduce All children aged under 12 in the region can their water consumption through its Key join Sammy’s Waterwise Club, which offers Account Program. This program is supported fun activities and competitions throughout by the use of intelligent meters to help the year to keep them engaged in water monitor, understand and reduce water use. efficiency. Specific projects include a partnership with a Students at Diggers Rest Primary key account customer and Victoria University School monitoring their school’s to implement a new waste treatment system water use through the SWEP online tool that will capture water for reuse.

WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 41 Westernport Water

Westernport Water offers drinking water, recycled water and wastewater services to Online Tips Home over 19,300 customers. Within Victoria, its Garden service area spans 300 square kilometres from The Gurdies to Archies Creek as well as Phillip Island.

Educational In order to conserve water, Westernport Programs Water created the Philip Island Recycled Water Scheme that delivers recycled water to sporting facilities, recreation areas, agricultural land and new residential Audit Residential developments. This program also prompted the creation of a one hectare sustainable community orchard that “will demonstrate how recycled water can provide for safe Promotes Smart and healthy food production.” The garden WaterMark will act as a prime example of sustainable Recycled water provision at Westernport Water water use for residents of Philips Island. In Member of 2016, the utility also offered a recycled water Smart Water grant program for businesses and non- Advice audits that provide customers with advice on continues to encourage waterwise behaviour profits. The grant helped organisations invest how to conserve water through installation in customers. The Water- Live it! Learn it! in connecting to existing recycled water of water efficient appliances and fixtures. networks by offering to pay up to 75% of education program also offers children the Major water users (10ML a day) are required $10,000 for project costs. chance to learn about the importance of to create a water Management Action Plan water conservation through activities for (waterMAP) to increase water efficiency and The utility further works to reduce primary and secondary school students. customer water use through various report annually to Westernport Water. In terms Sponsorships are also offered to “events and demand management strategies including of public awareness, the utility provides online initiatives that encourage the sustainable use improvement of system efficiency through resources about reservoir levels including leakage detection, promotion of water a helpful graph as well as information on of water”. Westernport Water’s diversified efficient products, commercial and industrial permanent water saving rules and how water demand management strategy has water use initiatives, and groth of public to check for leaks. By promoting Target allowed the community to actively engage in awareness through education. It offers water Your Water Use and Smart Water Advice, it water saving techniques.

WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 42 Yarra Valley Water

Yarra Valley Water supplies water and Online Tips sanitation services as a retail water utility to Home Business 1.8 million people in Melbourne. Overseen by Garden Schools an independent board of directors appointed by the government, its service area spans 4,000 square kilometres across the northern Educational and eastern suburbs. Programs

Yarra Valley Water remains focused on efficient water use behaviours to ensure the Audit community makes the most of Victoria’s Residential precious water supplies. Despite the easing of water restrictions, per capita water consumption has remained low across the Member of School children learning the water cycle as part of the SWEP program Yarra Valley Water area at 168 litres per day, Smart Water Advice which is well below pre-drought levels.

Since Yarra Valley Water’s service area is water per person per day. This is supported customers through optional water audits projected to grow over the next 50 years, through account inserts, social media, local and usage management tools. Businesses stormwater recycling and recycled water media and website content. This approach and Councils (public gardens and sporting options will be implemented as alternate is supported by an education program, grounds) continue to be assisted in becoming water sources where feasible. 100,000 new which integrates water into the curriculum for more water efficient. homes have been mandated for recycled schools and early learning centres, including water in Melbourne’s Northern growth area. free classroom presentations, games and A network wide leak detection program uses This requires consideration of the complete puzzles, competitions and educational a range of proactive and reactive measures water cycle, close collaboration with resources. Schools are also encouraged to to reduce water losses and save money for communities, councils and other partners participate in the Schools Water Efficiency customers. This includes the use of software and is projected to use six billion litres per Program (SWEP), a Victorian Government tools which analyse real-time flow monitoring year of recycled water at full development. initiative that enables schools to track and data to identify leak events, the analysis of manage their water consumption. They continue to implement water efficiency aggregate billing data to balance water programs such as Target 155, a voluntary Customers are encouraged to use water use across various supply zones and leak program that encourages Melbourne efficient appliances, products and services. detection to identify and repair small leaks households to use a maximum of 155 litres of Support is also available for vulnerable not visible to the public.

WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 43 WESTERN Aqwest AUSTRALIA In November 2013, Aqwest became the Bunbury Water Corporation, a government trading enterprise operating under the Water Online Tips Home Corporations Act 1995. Aqwest delivers a Garden high quality water supply within the city of Bunbury and surrounding areas using the latest engineering technologies. Aqwest has become very efficient at producing and delivering high Educational Programs quality water. Furthermore, they are very aware of water usage by consumers and the effects it can have on the amount of water available in the future.

With a Water Conservation Campaign underway they are providing water conservation advice for residential homes, for both outdoor and indoor WATER CORPORATION guidance. This campaign provides the public with a thorough amount of insight, data and recommendations to be an informed water user. The website displays a section dedicated to children’s education featuring activities such as a water conservation quiz, informational booklets, and information on how to monitor water use. Aqwest continues to make great efforts to fully inform the public about their water, ranging from how it is treated to the best ways to conserve it regardless of the absent government funding.

AQWEST

WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 44 Water Corporation

Water Corporation provides water, wastewater and drainage services across 2.6 million square Online Tips kilometres of Western Australia. It supplies 2 Home Business million customers with 370 billion litres of water Garden each year. Water Corporation’s long-term plans to secure water supplies in response to climate change, titled Water Forever, include Educational working with the community to reduce water Programs use, increasing the amount of water recycled and developing new water sources. Showerhead An important part of the plan is Water Exchange Program Corporation’s continued work with its households, businesses and industry Waterwise specialist advising on waterwise plants customers to reduce water use. This includes Smart initiatives such as the Showerhead Swap WaterMark Supporter program, which exchanged nearly 24,500 inefficient showerheads for waterwise Water saving advice is provided to 326 sustainably has deferred the need to invest replacements in 2016. The Waterwise Garden Promotes large businesses, industry customers, office in new water sources. Rewards Program was also a success for Smart buildings and housing developments. This WaterMark households, with nearly 10,000 purchases has helped save more than 72 billion litres of Water Corporation supplies recycled water of waterwise mulch, soil improver and soil drinking water since 2007. through 75 schemes for a range of purposes wetting agent. Water saving efforts in Perth including industrial reuse, public and woodlot alone helped save around 130 billion litres of garden design, specific to different regions of In addition, Water Corporation works with irrigation, as well as use in wastewater water in 2015-16. the vast State. a number of industries to reduce water treatment plants. In Broome, Water use such as developers, councils, aquatic Corporation recycles around 309 million litres Water Corporation’s website also provides Permanent water efficiency measures centres and office buildings. Its Education of treated wastewater to irrigate a crop of water saving information for its customers, include sprinkler rosters and the winter Team also helps more than 569 Waterwise Rhodes Grass hay. Part of the proceeds from including a tool to calculate water use within sprinkler ban which were introduced many Schools across the State educate the next the sale of the hay is then used to fund Water the home. The calculator provides an overall years ago to ensure water is not wasted on generation about saving water. waterwise rating for a home compared gardens. The winter sprinkler ban is currently Corporation’s West Kimberley Community to others of a similar size, then creates a in place across Perth, Mandurah and parts of Investment in ongoing programs and Grants Scheme, which recently provided personalised water saving plan for the home. the South West and Great Southern, saving education to help the community reduce more than $50,000 to local community Gardeners can also find waterwise plants and about 4.8 billion litres of water annually. water use and ensure water is used projects.

WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 45 NATIONAL

SUEZ

VEOLIA

WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 46 SUEZ Veolia

SUEZ Australia & New Zealand offers Veolia is an international company, comprised resource management solutions to make the of a number of water-related entities that best use of water resources. The company provide a range of total water management Online Tips Home Educational services to commercial, industrial and partners with municipalities and industries Programs alike, some of their notable clients include municipal clients as well as residents. The SA Water, Sydney Water, Unitywater, the company offers over 350 proprietary Victorian Government, West Australian Water technologies dedicated to treating drinking water, industrial processed water, ultra-pure Educational Corporation, Delta Electricity and Thales. Programs After distinguishing the client’s objectives, water, wastewater and seawater. Globally, SUEZ tailors a unique solution to achieve the group is responsible for supplying the customer’s goals whilst maintaining the 100 million people with drinking water, sustainability of resources. Services include connecting 61 million people to wastewater designing, building, operating and maintaining systems and managing 4,052 drinking water plants, facilities and networks dedicated and 2,928 wastewater treatment plants. North Water Reclamation Plant is capable of Throughout Australia and New Zealand, it to drinking water production, desalination treating 8.4 megalitres of wastewater per day is responsible for managing 123 water and and wastewater treatment and reuse. When while improving the quality of treated water wastewater treatment plants, which include SUEZ is contracted to build plants, the discharged to the environment. This project approximately $10 billion in assets. company takes care to ensure efficiency in the is supported by the Ballarat North Water design. The Prospect Water Filtration Plant, traditional method of flushing the pipes and is An array of Veolia’s projects work to provide Reclamation Plant which produces up to 2.5 for example, has managed to minimise water now widely used throughout Australia. recycled water across Australia. In NSW, the megalitres per day of high quality recycled loss to less than 0.03% due to its advanced Rosehill Recycled Water Scheme provides water, available for a variety of uses including SUEZ commits to further partnerships with filtration system and water reclamation, Sydney customers such as Sydney Turf distribution into Lake Wendouree, the major local authorities to achieve efficiency goals. specially designed by SUEZ. Club, Marubeni Australia Power Services, recreational lake in Ballarat. In Adelaide, South Australia, SUEZ is involved Boral Australian Gypsum, Visy Paper, SUEZ has developed many tools and offers to in a joint venture between Broadspectrum By providing vast amounts of recycled water, LyondellBasell Australia and Shell Refining support their customers in sustainable water and SUEZ, working in partnership with Veolia manages to minimise unnecessary with recycled water. The Fairfield Recycled management. For instance, SUEZ Advanced SA Water to deliver sustainable water and use of potable water. As part of its business Water Plant, which has a capacity of 20 Solutions for Smart Water Networks allows wastewater services. This plan allows 29% model and overall sustainability agenda, the megalitres per day, produces 4.3 billion litres utilities to constantly monitor their water of wastewater to be used in irrigation, toilets company also provides water education of highly treated recycled water a year for networks allowing for easy maintenance and and gardening. Encouraging its clients to use programs regarding water use to local major industrial and commercial customers optimisation of the distribution channels. This recycled water helps save potable water and residents, inclusive of numerous engaging in Rosehill and Smithfield, reducing demands provides utilities with the tools to reduce water reduces demand on freshwater stores. Also, materials for families, businesses, schools and on drinking water supply. Additionally, the loss from leaks and preserve water resources. as part of the ambitious water saving plan, the councils. To promote water conservation, Gerringong Gerroa Sewerage Scheme SUEZ also develops water efficient methods Christies Beach Waste Water Treatment Plant Veolia’s website also lists tips to save water, is designed to treat local farm effluent so for pipe network cleaning called ice pigging. manages to recycle 92% of its wastewater in such as installing rainwater tanks, fixing leaks that 80% can be re-used, and the Ballarat This technique uses 50% less water than the the summer months. and installing water efficient taps.

WATER EFFICIENCY 2017 47