Water Kit - Hunter Water

2.5 water conservation initiatives
When introducing new ideas it is
important to test the idea first to
see if it is worthwhile. Hunter Water
often works in partnership with other
organisations to investigate water
saving ideas and how well they may
work when applied to the broader
Lower Hunter community.
eco-friendly home
An eco-friendly home at Tighes
Hill showcases best practice for
sustainable living. This includes 40,000
litre rainwater storage tanks to supply
all water needed by the family.
The house has water-free composting
toilets. Grey water from washing
machines and showers are used to water
garden areas. Efficient shower roses and
a front loading washing machine have
been installed. Native grasses and trees
have been planted and these have an
advantage of being drought resistant.
The home will save on water and energy
costs and also showcase a sustainable
alternative for Lower Hunter residents.
This eco-friendly home is setting a new
benchmark in terms of environmentally
friendly living in the Lower Hunter.
Berni Hockings at his energy and water efficient
home in Tighes Hill
Kotara Roof to Creek Project
Developed by Hunter Water, Newcastle
City Council and The University of
Newcastle, this community project has
involved the installation of rainwater tanks
on individual properties, and changes to
landscaping in public areas of Kotara.
The project aims to conserve mains
water use and to reduce the quantity
and velocity of stormwater runoff leaving
the catchment. The project monitors
mains and rainwater use, and rainfall and
runoff from the catchment. The project
also looks at community attitudes and
behaviour, motivations for installing
Water kit . ssS . 001 . april 2010
rainwater tanks and the most effective
and affordable ways of retrofitting
rainwater tanks.
Rainwater tanks replace drinking water
for watering gardens
The ‘Roof to Creek’ project has installed
16 rainwater tanks in Kotara households.
The project involved house-to-house
briefings to advise residents of the
project’s benefits and the involvement
required. Each resident’s yard was
assessed to determine the suitability,
size and location of their respective
rainwater tank.
The project tested the value of rainwater
tanks in addressing a stormwater problem
in the catchment. It is also providing
a testing and verification ground for
research undertaken by the University
into modelling of water flows and rainfall.
The three-year project has also involved
retofitting water efficient devices.
Monitoring, evaluation and education has
taken place throughout the entire project.
family installs rainwater tank
A local engineer has installed a rainwater
tank at his home to supply about 70% of
his family’s water when there is sufficient
rain. In dry times, most of the water comes
from the mains supply. The 4,500 litre
tank supplies water to the toilet, washing
machine and outdoor tap.
The family estimates that an average of
40% of their household water will come
from the tank throughout the year; this
equates to around 80 kL per year. Even in
dry years, the tank will supply a lot
of water.
In order to achieve these levels of mains
water reduction, the rainwater tank had to
be connected to appliances that are used
throughout the year, such as toilets and
washing machines. Less than half of this
amount of this water would be saved if the
tank were only connected for garden use.
If the rainwater tank runs low it can be
‘topped up’ with water from the mains
water supply. This ensures the tank
never runs out of water and the supply of
water to appliances is never disrupted.
The top up is only activated when tank
levels drop significantly. It does not refill
the tank. Instead it ensures the water in
the tank does not drop below a specified
level. Without rain, the tank lasts about
two weeks before the mains top up is
activated.
It takes at least 600 millimetres of rain
per year to generate streamflow into our
Lower Hunter reservoirs. Using rainwater
tanks, however, a large proportion of any
amount of rain can be collected via house
roofs. The result is that rainwater tanks
can achieve reduced demand on Hunter
Water reservoirs and other infrastructure
(ie pipes, pumping stations) even in times
of drought.
To monitor how much water could be
supplied from the family’s tank, Hunter
Water installed two water meters at
the home. The university is using the
rainwater tank as part of research into
tank dynamics and their associated health
implications.
The Berghout’s rainwater tank saves 40%
of potable water usage.
Did you know?
• Rainwater tanks come in all shapes
and sizes, from small 600L slimline
tanks to very large 45,000L tanks
for rural use - the typical tank for
residential purposes is 5,000L.
Every 1mm of rain on 1m2 of roof
amounts to 1L of water.
• The size of tank that will suit your
circumstances depends upon the
footprint space available for the
tank, the roof catchment area that
feeds into the tank, rainfall patterns
in your area, and your use of the
collected water.
• Rainwater can be used on the
garden and for water supply to
toilets and cold water taps in the
laundry - this accounts for 60% of
average household water use.
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