Permanent Water Efficiency Measures
Water restrictions have been used to manage demand from the IWSS water grid in times of severe shortage caused by drought or, more recently, our drying climate. They target non-essential uses of water (such as water for gardens) to conserve drinking water supplies for essential uses.
In other States, the most recent drought has resulted in the imposition of water restrictions of varying levels, ranging from sprinkler bans to no watering of lawns and very limited water use on gardens.
The Water Corporation sees such extreme water restrictions as undesirable. Severe water restrictions such as banning outdoor sprinkler use, adversely impact the community both in terms of dependent industries (horticulture, recreation) and homeowners through the loss of gardens and green space.
Since 2001 we have introduced measures that save water and maintain gardens by working closely with the community and associated industries. One example is the two day a week sprinkler roster in Perth which saves approximately 45 gigalitres of water a year. This is enough to supply 188,000 households and helps to avoid over 30,000 tonnes of CO2-equivalent greenhouse gas emission use to source, treat and supply water.
In October 2007, this sprinkler roster system, together with other Water Efficiency Measures, became permanent for the Southern part of Western Australia. Our customers overwhelmingly support the introduction of this sprinkler rostering system as a permanent part of how we use water sensibly in Western Australia.
Other water saving measures suited to hotter average temperatures in the Northern half of the State have also been introduced.
Permanent water efficiency measures make a substantial contribution to conserving water and our natural environment.