Water Kit - Hunter Water
Water Kit - Hunter Water Water Kit - Hunter Water
Hunter Water’s move to a pay-foruse pricing structure has resulted in a sustained reduction in overall water consumption in the Lower Hunter. Water conservation Conservation encourages the community to use less water through public relations strategies such as community education and incentive schemes. Hunter Water launches a water saving campaign each summer when the demand for water increases and the climate conditions can cause water supplies to decrease. During this time various methods are used to raise awareness of the importance of water and promote simple ways to conserve water. The promotion of water conservation is undertaken by Hunter Water at community events and through partnering on-ground projects that result in better management of land and water. Hunter Water also subsidises retrofit programs where water saving devices are installed in local homes. Benefits and costs There are benefits and costs for both of these management options. For instance, regulation can be scaled up or down according to different situations that affect water use (eg the consumer group, level of water storage), but it may also discourage high water use companies from establishing new facilites in the Lower Hunter. Conservation initiatives may prove effective during low water levels, but once rain arrives people can slip back to wasteful water use habits, so changes may only be temporary. However, simple things such as fixing leaking taps and replacing inefficient appliances can achieve ongoing savings. Combining pricing and conservation Hunter Water uses both pricing and conservation measures to reduce water usage. In terms of regulating prices, Hunter Water implemened its user-pays system in 1982. This system involves a small fixed charge based on the size of the water pipe ($25 per year for standard 20mm residential connections), and a usage charge based on how much water is consumed (about $1 per kilolitre). Hunter Water recovers most of its costs through this pricing structure. Over the years Hunter Water has slowly increased water usage charges to convey a strong conservation message. Even before the Think Twice campaign in the summer of 2003-04, Hunter Water customers already used 24% less than other urban water users in Australia. Community awareness of water conservation has been an important priority for Hunter Water, especially since the introduction of user-pays pricing which provided an incentive for change in behaviour. Supported by the IWRP, Hunter Water’s community awareness campaign has involved public relations activities such as media, marketing, advertising, events promotion, publications and education. The challenge now is for Hunter Water to continue to involve the whole community in the management of water resources into the future. Water kit . ssS . 001 . april 2010 5
2.2 being waterwise at home Our water use habits For most of us water is available at the turn of a tap. In the Lower Hunter more than half of the water used is in households. The average annual amount of water used is equivalent to five averagesized swimming pools (around 210,000 litres per year). About 60% is used in the laundry, bathroom and kitchen, with 40% used on the garden. ‘Think twice’ ... saving water is easy and it can save you money. You can reduce your household water consumption by up to 45% by taking some simple and easy steps to become water wise. BEING WATERWISE IN THE HOME There are many ways to save water in our homes: • Turn off taps when not in use eg don’t leave the tap running while you clean your teeth • Fix leaking taps or toilet cisterns • Only wash full loads of clothes or dishes • Check and replace tap washers regularly • Install AAA-rated household appliances ANNUAL WATER SUPPLY BY SECTOR • Install water efficient shower roses • Take shorter showers • Recycle your grey water (collect water from the shower, bath and laundry for your lawn) • Install a tank to collect rainwater When these water saving actions are applied across the community the demand on our water supplies can be significantly reduced. It also reduces the demands on water infrastructure and the need to build or upgrade reservoirs, pumping stations and treatment facilities. 16% Other 1% Education 2% Farms & Parks 2% Hotels 4% Health 53% Residential 5% Commercial 15% Industrial DOMESTIC WATER CONSUMPTION 24% Outdoor Use 25% Bath & Shower 2% Other 14% Taps 20% Washing Machine 15% Toilet Water kit . ssS . 001 . april 2010 6
- Page 1 and 2: Water kit . ssS . 001 . april 2010
- Page 3 and 4: introduction to water supply WATER
- Page 5 and 6: introduction WHY STUDY WATER? Water
- Page 7 and 8: 1.1 the water cycle INTRODUCTION Mo
- Page 9 and 10: BREAKING THE WATER CYCLE To supply
- Page 11 and 12: Hunter Water’s area of operations
- Page 13 and 14: Protecting and managing the catchme
- Page 15 and 16: Water From The Mountains Chichester
- Page 17 and 18: Rewarding Water Conservation A new
- Page 19 and 20: Main infrastructure of Hunter Water
- Page 21 and 22: 1.6 the managing groundwater supply
- Page 23 and 24: Water Sharing Plan for the Tomago,
- Page 25 and 26: Monitoring the Hunter catchment The
- Page 27 and 28: Environmental Hunter Water: • Dev
- Page 29 and 30: The Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) was
- Page 31 and 32: labour is invested on the site annu
- Page 33 and 34: influences on water supply in the h
- Page 35 and 36: ainfall patterns and water supply w
- Page 37 and 38: managing water supply sustainably w
- Page 39 and 40: 1.8 Sustainability & Water Supply S
- Page 41 and 42: Links with THE Syllabus Used collec
- Page 43: Integrated Water Resource Plan The
- Page 47 and 48: 2.3 being waterwise at school Water
- Page 49 and 50: 2.4 school water audit Why DO A wat
- Page 51 and 52: 2.6 think twice water saving campai
- Page 53 and 54: design a water saving campaign work
- Page 55 and 56: assessing water conservation scheme
- Page 57 and 58: 8 Use wetlands to store stormwater
- Page 59 and 60: water audits - a case study workshe
- Page 61 and 62: desktop water audit worksheet 4 Ask
- Page 63 and 64: asic water audit worksheet 5 Leakin
- Page 65 and 66: environmental audit protocol worksh
- Page 67 and 68: water conservation resource list 2.
- Page 69 and 70: Links with THE Syllabus Used collec
- Page 71 and 72: These controls specify the quality
- Page 73 and 74: wwtw population communities daily v
- Page 75 and 76: Grit Tank Inorganic grit material i
- Page 77 and 78: 3.5 stormwater management What is s
- Page 79 and 80: 3.6 managing stormwater with sqids
- Page 81 and 82: ) Suggest strategies that might be
- Page 83 and 84: Does it transport rubbish down into
- Page 85 and 86: stormwater in your school worksheet
- Page 87 and 88: improving wastewater worksheet 4 2
- Page 89 and 90: support material This section conta
- Page 91 and 92: International WEBSITES: Ecoschools
- Page 93 and 94: LOWER HUNTER CENTRAL COAST REGIONAL
2.2 being waterwise at home<br />
Our water use habits<br />
For most of us water is available at<br />
the turn of a tap. In the Lower <strong>Hunter</strong><br />
more than half of the water used is in<br />
households.<br />
The average annual amount of water<br />
used is equivalent to five averagesized<br />
swimming pools (around 210,000<br />
litres per year). About 60% is used in<br />
the laundry, bathroom and kitchen,<br />
with 40% used on the garden.<br />
‘Think twice’ ... saving water is easy<br />
and it can save you money. You<br />
can reduce your household water<br />
consumption by up to 45% by taking<br />
some simple and easy steps to<br />
become water wise.<br />
BEING WATERWISE IN THE HOME<br />
There are many ways to save water in<br />
our homes:<br />
• Turn off taps when not in use eg<br />
don’t leave the tap running while<br />
you clean your teeth<br />
• Fix leaking taps or toilet cisterns<br />
• Only wash full loads of clothes or<br />
dishes<br />
• Check and replace tap washers<br />
regularly<br />
• Install AAA-rated household<br />
appliances<br />
ANNUAL WATER SUPPLY BY SECTOR<br />
• Install water efficient shower roses<br />
• Take shorter showers<br />
• Recycle your grey water (collect<br />
water from the shower, bath and<br />
laundry for your lawn)<br />
• Install a tank to collect rainwater<br />
When these water saving actions are<br />
applied across the community the<br />
demand on our water supplies can be<br />
significantly reduced. It also reduces<br />
the demands on water infrastructure<br />
and the need to build or upgrade<br />
reservoirs, pumping stations and<br />
treatment facilities.<br />
16% Other<br />
1% Education<br />
2% Farms & Parks<br />
2% Hotels<br />
4% Health<br />
53% Residential<br />
5% Commercial<br />
15% Industrial<br />
DOMESTIC WATER CONSUMPTION<br />
24% Outdoor Use<br />
25% Bath & Shower<br />
2% Other<br />
14% Taps<br />
20% Washing Machine<br />
15% Toilet<br />
<strong>Water</strong> kit . ssS . 001 . april 2010<br />
6
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