Sustainable Water Management Plan - Nillumbik Shire Council

Theme 1: Water conservation
Background
Although Australia is the driest inhabited continent
on earth, it also has one of the highest rates of water
use per capita in the world. In order to preserve a
sustainable supply of good quality drinking water for
future generations, we need to change our current
patterns of consumption by using water more
efficiently and building an ethic of water conservation
throughout the community.
Melbourne has been experiencing drought since
1998 and changes in weather pattern forecasts
predict warmer temperatures, increases in
evaporation rates and lower rainfall averages. While
there is still uncertainty as to the specific implications
of global warming on regional rainfall, it is likely that
Victoria will have less water available for future uses.
Melbourne has experienced Stage 1, 2, 3 and 3a
water restrictions and permanent water saving
measures are now mandatory. For the first time ever,
Melburnians are not able to use water in the same
capacity as they have previously done. Without
further water conservation measures, Melbourne
could experience a water supply shortfall within the
next 15 years. 3 If the most severe climate change
scenarios occur, this shortfall could happen even
sooner. Although this does not mean Melbourne will
run out of water, the supply would be diminished and
the frequency or severity of water restrictions would
increase. The Victorian government has introduced
a target to reduce Victoria’s potable water use by
15% by 2010, and has stated that building a new
dam to increase Melbourne’s water supply is not
a sustainable solution. The importance of using
water efficiently is vital if Melbourne’s supply is to be
reliable for future generations. At the time of writing
this Plan, Melbourne’s water storages were at a
capacity of 40.3%. 5
A wide range of water conservation options are
available to Council and the community. There
are both financial and environmental benefits from
using water efficiently. Education plays an important
role in assisting the implementation of Council’s
Sustainable Water Management Plan. Promotion
of water saving devices and appliances will bring
water conservation to the forefront for Council, the
community and contractors. It is also important that
the community is informed of Council’s work to
improve water conservation across Council facilities.
The community should be aware of Councils’ water
consumption reduction goal and progress toward
achieving it. A Council that practices smart water use
in its daily activities will then provide a solid basis on
which to promote water conservation to the broader
community.
Water conservation initiatives that are
considered in the Plan include:
Water efficient appliances
Upgrading, replacing and/or retrofitting existing
Council facilities. Water efficient appliances that will
be considered include:
• dual flush toilets
• flow control valves
• AAA (or higher) rated showerheads
• AAA (or higher) rated dishwashers
• sensor switches
• waterless urinals
• spring-loaded taps
• rainwater tanks.
Rainwater harvesting and reuse
To make better use of stormwater, rainwater tanks
can capture and store runoff as a substitute for
potable water supply where alternative water supply
alternatives are appropriate for toilet flushing and
irrigation.
Stormwater harvesting and reuse
Stormwater harvesting directly from stormwater
drains for capture in tanks, is often appropriate
for water intensive applications such as irrigation
of sports grounds, where buildings are not
appropriately located for rainwater harvesting.
Greywater reuse
Wastewater can be captured and reused for
gardening or toilet flushing. As greywater is not
suitable for direct human contact, care must be taken
to ensure that this water does not contaminate the
potable water supply or impact on the environment.
Blackwater
Sewage treated to an appropriate standard may be
used in a range of applications. Sewer mains that
run through the Shire of Nillumbik carry large and
reliable water flows that can be used for non-drinking
purposes. The use of recycled water has the dual
benefit of reducing both potable water demand and
the amount of discharge of treated effluent. This
process is also known as sewer mining.
Water sensitive urban design
Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) is a
sustainable approach that seeks to ensure
developments are carefully designed, constructed
and maintained to minimise impact on the natural
environment.
WSUD aims to:
• protect natural systems
• integrate stormwater treatment into the
landscape
• protect water quality
• reduce runoff and peak flows.
Rainwater tanks form an important element of
WSUD and water conservation, with the tanks acting
as small retention basins in times of heavy rain,
while providing reuse options for activities such as
toilet flushing and irrigation.
Goals
Monitoring of Council’s progress will be against the
2000-2001 consumption level of 186,958 kilolitres
of water.
Council’s Operations Centre actions are highly
dependant on rainfall and therefore it is expected
there will be annual variations in water consumption.
However, through the retrofitting and upgrade
program, Council is confident that it can reduce its
total water use by 45% from 2000-2001 levels by
2010-2011. This will result in a potential saving of
84,130 kilolitres of water.
Council’s goals for water consumption:
Council goal
To reduce Nillumbik Shire Council’s water
consumption by 45% from 2000-2001 levels by
2010-2011.
Community goal
To reduce the Shire of Nillumbik’s community water
consumption by 25% from 2000-2001 levels by
2010-2011.
These goals will be reviewed by Council every three
years.
Strategic Objectives
1. To be a leader in sustainable water
management.
2. To reduce water use and encourage
water efficiency in all Council operations,
households, businesses and schools.
3. To continue to work in partnership with water
retailers to develop water conservation
programs.
4. To increase the awareness and understanding
of sustainable water use principles and
practices.
5. To actively seek funding for water saving
programs and devices.
6. To monitor and annually report on Council and
the community’s water consumption levels.
3
Draft Water Supply-Demand Strategy for Melbourne 2006-2055 pg 1
5
www.melbournewater.com.au 7 November 2007
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