❓ Mr. Taylor asks how the WA government encourages local businesses to save water. The Minister details the Water Corporation's Water Forever plan, the Water Efficiency Management Program, and awards for businesses achieving significant water savings.
AnsweredQoN 147Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WATER —
SAVINGS
147. Mr M.H. TAYLOR to the
Minister for Water:
With our drying climate, saving water is the responsibility
of not only households but also businesses. Can the minister please explain how
the government is encouraging local businesses to save water?
SAVINGS
147. Mr M.H. TAYLOR to the
Minister for Water:
With our drying climate, saving water is the responsibility
of not only households but also businesses. Can the minister please explain how
the government is encouraging local businesses to save water?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Bateman for the question and his
interest in water saving. The Water Corporation, with its Water Forever 50-year
plan, has a target to meet the demanding challenge that will emerge in the next
30, 40 and 50 years. The approach has three prongs: it will develop new water
sources, increase water recycling and reduce the consumption of water users by
15 per cent per capita by 2030. That is quite an ambitious target, but it is
appropriate to us meeting the water challenges going forward. We all know that
if we save one litre of water, we also save the cost of producing one litre; we will use the process of desalination
for nearly half of Perth's water supply, so it is quite a costly
process. Therefore, savings have a significant financial benefit.
I have spoken before in this place about the efforts we have
put into reducing household consumption of water and members will be aware of
the range of rebate programs, changing showerheads and the like. We have also made a pitch to businesses for
them to reduce their level of
water consumption under the water efficiency management program, which was
designed to help small to medium-sized businesses improve their water use efficiency. There is a trigger point of water use
that means they have to be part of the program. Those that have been involved
in it account for around 37 per cent of the non-residential scheme water use in
Western Australia. They are fairly significant users and the program targets a
significant level of consumption in that group. Since the program was put in
place, 344 businesses in Western Australia have saved 18.5 billion litres of
water over four years. That converts to around $16 million of financial savings. All those
businesses quite appropriately want to reduce their costs and that is one way they can do it. They have done a
good job in that regard. In 2011–12 these businesses saved around eight
billion litres. That is an improvement on past years, so the businesses that
are involved in the program are getting better.
Just recently we recognised those that have been very good at what
they do. We have allocated a range of awards—bronze, silver, gold and
platinum. The platinum awards are for those businesses that have achieved 50 per
cent water saving efficiency. Earlier this week, 14 businesses were awarded the
platinum award and 35 businesses were awarded the gold award for achieving
between 35 and 50 per cent water saving efficiency. That is a fantastic effort
from businesses in Western Australia. One of the real signals of success is
that even though some of those businesses have dropped below the trigger point
to be involved with the program because of their water savings, they have still chosen to be part of the
program. That is a fantastic program. I really support those businesses that
are making a big effort. I also support the efforts of the Water Corporation in trying to reduce water
consumption in Western Australia.
interest in water saving. The Water Corporation, with its Water Forever 50-year
plan, has a target to meet the demanding challenge that will emerge in the next
30, 40 and 50 years. The approach has three prongs: it will develop new water
sources, increase water recycling and reduce the consumption of water users by
15 per cent per capita by 2030. That is quite an ambitious target, but it is
appropriate to us meeting the water challenges going forward. We all know that
if we save one litre of water, we also save the cost of producing one litre; we will use the process of desalination
for nearly half of Perth's water supply, so it is quite a costly
process. Therefore, savings have a significant financial benefit.
I have spoken before in this place about the efforts we have
put into reducing household consumption of water and members will be aware of
the range of rebate programs, changing showerheads and the like. We have also made a pitch to businesses for
them to reduce their level of
water consumption under the water efficiency management program, which was
designed to help small to medium-sized businesses improve their water use efficiency. There is a trigger point of water use
that means they have to be part of the program. Those that have been involved
in it account for around 37 per cent of the non-residential scheme water use in
Western Australia. They are fairly significant users and the program targets a
significant level of consumption in that group. Since the program was put in
place, 344 businesses in Western Australia have saved 18.5 billion litres of
water over four years. That converts to around $16 million of financial savings. All those
businesses quite appropriately want to reduce their costs and that is one way they can do it. They have done a
good job in that regard. In 2011–12 these businesses saved around eight
billion litres. That is an improvement on past years, so the businesses that
are involved in the program are getting better.
Just recently we recognised those that have been very good at what
they do. We have allocated a range of awards—bronze, silver, gold and
platinum. The platinum awards are for those businesses that have achieved 50 per
cent water saving efficiency. Earlier this week, 14 businesses were awarded the
platinum award and 35 businesses were awarded the gold award for achieving
between 35 and 50 per cent water saving efficiency. That is a fantastic effort
from businesses in Western Australia. One of the real signals of success is
that even though some of those businesses have dropped below the trigger point
to be involved with the program because of their water savings, they have still chosen to be part of the
program. That is a fantastic program. I really support those businesses that
are making a big effort. I also support the efforts of the Water Corporation in trying to reduce water
consumption in Western Australia.
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