❓ The Minister for Water provides an update on the Water Corporation's water saving initiatives, particularly focusing on programs for households, industry, local government, and a new Waterwise office program in the City of Perth. The answer highlights past successes and future plans for water conservation.
AnsweredQoN 779Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WATER
CORPORATION — WATER SAVING INITIATIVES
779. Ms E. EVANGEL to the
Minister for Water:
Can the minister please update the house on the Water
Corporation's latest water saving initiatives, especially those in the
electorate of Perth?
CORPORATION — WATER SAVING INITIATIVES
779. Ms E. EVANGEL to the
Minister for Water:
Can the minister please update the house on the Water
Corporation's latest water saving initiatives, especially those in the
electorate of Perth?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Perth for her question that quite
rightly highlights the importance of preserving water in a state like Western
Australia. Clearly her interest in this shows deep support of any measures we
can take to do so. When encouraging the community to save water at various
levels there is a need to freshen up the story, the ideas that are out there,
and the innovation unit, so that people come to the party and help to reduce
water consumption. Over the past few years the Water Corporation has shown a
number of levels of innovation in achieving just that. A lot of programs have
been rolled out for households, including Home Smart, the showerhead
replacement program, H2O Assist and the Target 60 campaign. All of these
measures mean that we have had a drop in water consumption from 191 000 litres
per household in 2001 to 132 000 litres in 2012. That is a saving of six gigalitres
of water. From an industry perspective, we have introduced a number of water
efficiency management plans for large water users. This program has saved eight
billion litres of water a year, which is a substantial saving. At the local
government level, I am sure all members here are familiar with the Waterwise
council program. There are 20 endorsed Waterwise councils and 25 councils
working towards their Waterwise status; once again, another initiative.
The next step is to look at city office buildings in Perth.
Notably, offices in the CBD, East Perth and West Perth use more than 1.5 billion
litres of water each year, roughly the same as about 5 000 residential
households. They are substantial users.
A joint study last year by the Water Corporation and the City
of Perth indicated that over 30 per cent of sites have greater water use than
is considered typical. That suggests to us that there is not only scope for
innovation but also water saving. As a direct result of that study, the Water Corporation
has joined forces with the City of Perth and the Property Council of Australia
to create a new Waterwise office program. The program is open to all office
owners within the City of Perth that have a net lettable area of 5 000 square metres
or more. It will establish baseline water use for the commercial office sector
and set industry benchmarks to guide efficient water use. It will also provide
advice on things that offices can do to save water. There will be recognition
of offices that perform well in that area by having bronze, silver and gold
status that they can articulate to the community about their significant
savings.
I am really pleased that an organisation such as the Water
Corporation, particularly partnering up with various groups in the community,
is able to freshen up ideas around where we can put effort to save water.
Looking at the City of Perth and looking at offices are two target areas. I am
very pleased with that initiative. I hope it will come to a very good outcome
for water in Western Australia.
rightly highlights the importance of preserving water in a state like Western
Australia. Clearly her interest in this shows deep support of any measures we
can take to do so. When encouraging the community to save water at various
levels there is a need to freshen up the story, the ideas that are out there,
and the innovation unit, so that people come to the party and help to reduce
water consumption. Over the past few years the Water Corporation has shown a
number of levels of innovation in achieving just that. A lot of programs have
been rolled out for households, including Home Smart, the showerhead
replacement program, H2O Assist and the Target 60 campaign. All of these
measures mean that we have had a drop in water consumption from 191 000 litres
per household in 2001 to 132 000 litres in 2012. That is a saving of six gigalitres
of water. From an industry perspective, we have introduced a number of water
efficiency management plans for large water users. This program has saved eight
billion litres of water a year, which is a substantial saving. At the local
government level, I am sure all members here are familiar with the Waterwise
council program. There are 20 endorsed Waterwise councils and 25 councils
working towards their Waterwise status; once again, another initiative.
The next step is to look at city office buildings in Perth.
Notably, offices in the CBD, East Perth and West Perth use more than 1.5 billion
litres of water each year, roughly the same as about 5 000 residential
households. They are substantial users.
A joint study last year by the Water Corporation and the City
of Perth indicated that over 30 per cent of sites have greater water use than
is considered typical. That suggests to us that there is not only scope for
innovation but also water saving. As a direct result of that study, the Water Corporation
has joined forces with the City of Perth and the Property Council of Australia
to create a new Waterwise office program. The program is open to all office
owners within the City of Perth that have a net lettable area of 5 000 square metres
or more. It will establish baseline water use for the commercial office sector
and set industry benchmarks to guide efficient water use. It will also provide
advice on things that offices can do to save water. There will be recognition
of offices that perform well in that area by having bronze, silver and gold
status that they can articulate to the community about their significant
savings.
I am really pleased that an organisation such as the Water
Corporation, particularly partnering up with various groups in the community,
is able to freshen up ideas around where we can put effort to save water.
Looking at the City of Perth and looking at offices are two target areas. I am
very pleased with that initiative. I hope it will come to a very good outcome
for water in Western Australia.
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