The Hindu Business Line : Every drop counts

It may be one of the world’s more modern and beautiful cities, but Sydney is no exception to the problem that many other cities face — water shortage. Currently there is a shortage of water, but a traveller won’t even notice it, thanks to the city’s water saving and harnessing measures.

With simple measures such as watering gardens less often and using buckets of water, not hoses, to wash cars, the city is winning the battle against water shortage. Since October 2003 when the restrictions began, the people of Sydney have saved 185 billion litres of water.

For instance, the government allows hand-held hosing of lawns and gardens, and drip irrigation on Wednesdays and Sundays only before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m.; no other watering systems or sprinklers are to be used at any time. No hosing of hard surfaces, including vehicles, at any time and no hose or tap to be left running unattended, except when filling pools or containers; fire hoses must be used for fire-fighting purposes only and not for cleaning.

There is now a concerted effort to save water involving the government, people and commercial establishments. The government’s ‘save water’ campaign has paid off, with the demand for water down to 403 litres per person a day from 506 litres a few years ago.

There are nearly 10 lakh additional people in Sydney today but the city uses nearly the same amount of water it did 25 years ago. Around 1.5 billion litres of water are supplied to over 1.6 million homes and businesses each day, says David Minnett, Managing Director, Group Momentum, a Sydney-based company that is into creative, marketing and print services.

While in the past Sydney had relied mainly on water from dams, it now looks at alternate sources. Increasingly, water sourced from rainfall collected in dams has been supplemented by recycled water for industry, agriculture and homes.

The ‘save water’ campaign is a major exercise undertaken by the government in Sydney in the last four years. Group Momentum is involved in taking the campaign to households in Sydney through print, e-mail and the Internet.

Sydney Water, a statutory State-owned corporation, wholly owned by the people of New South Wales, was created to protect public health, the environment and to be a successful business. It now provides drinking water, recycled water, wastewater services and storm water services to more than four million people in Sydney, Illawarra and the Blue Mountains. Drinking water is sourced from a network of dams managed by the Sydney Catchment Authority, then treated and delivered to customers’ homes and businesses by Sydney Water.

With over 3,300 staff, Sydney Water has assets worth over A$12 billion and an annual capital works programme of more than A$500 million, according to information available on its Web site.

Helping save water

Individuals can obtain a free ‘Do-It-Yourself Water Saving Kit’ with fittings for taps and showerheads. They can also organise with Sydney Water for a qualified plumber to install water-saving devices and check for minor leaks for A$22; receive A$150 as rebate on purchase of a new, water-efficient washing machine and a rebate of up to A$650 on installing a rainwater tank in an existing home.

There is a A$130-million Water Savings Fund that provides incentives to councils and businesses to implement effective and innovative water savings investments. Further, high water-using businesses, councils and government agencies must prepare a Water Savings Action Plan to identify water savings. The ‘Every Drop Counts’ business programme of the government has experts working with businesses and councils to develop ways to change equipment and practices to save water and money.

Minnett said that WaterFix Programme — in which Group Momentum is involved as a service provider for campaigns — would install water-efficient fittings in over five lakh homes by 2008.

A fine of A$220 is imposed on individuals for any breach of the restrictions. The Water Restrictions Patrol carries random audits to ensure compliance with the new exemption conditions. To further ensure compliance, a company faces a fine of $550 for each breach.

Recycled water, bore water and water used for testing fire systems, fire fighting and related activities are excluded from restrictions, information in the Sydney Water Web site says.

Minnett said Sydneysiders have responded positively to the challenge of saving water. Together, the action to increase recycling, reduce demand and increase supply will help meet Sydney’s water needs up to at least 2015.

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