Water efficiency and conservation
Guidelines released by the former Department of Energy Utilities and Sustainability in July 2005 required major users of potable water in industry, state and local governments to develop plans that promoted efficiencies in water consumption. This applied to organisations within Sydney Water's area of operations.
An audit of water consumption in ten parks and major office buildings in and around Sydney in 2005 provided a snapshot of the organisations's water use and identified potential water savings of over 52,000 kilolitres (kL) per annum. Many relatively simple and cost-effective opportunities to make significant water savings both in the short and long term were identified.
The Botanic Gardens more than halved its water consumption from 203,800kL in 2000-01 to under 100,000kL in 2004-05. This equates to a saving of over $90,000 in water bills. This has been through actions such as:
- incorporating well-mulched gardens and vegetated areas
- using additives to improve water penetration
- plant selection to avoid plants with high water requirement
- a high profile given to displaying signage that educates the visiting public (and visitors to the OEH website) about water conservation practices.
National parks have adopted national standards for water savings devices such as dual flush toilets and low flow devices in facility upgrades, trail head works and maintenance programs. Public amenity upgrades at Bonnie Vale, Kurnell and the Blue Mountains use water efficient fittings and rainwater tanks.
Page last updated: 04 May 2011
