Waterwise Homes, Gardens and Communities
Background
The Water Corporation initiated the first Waterwise program in 1994 with the establishment of the Waterwise Schools program.
Since then a number of new programs have been introduced for households, businesses and more recently local councils. In 2001 this activity was further accelerated to work collaboratively with the community to constructively introduce the two days a week sprinkler roster system.
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Waterwise programs achieve substantial water savings for homes and gardens through the provision of specialist advice on waterwise products and services:
- Waterwise Plumbers – plumbers trained in water efficiency visit householders to assess and provide advice on how water can be saved in the home.
- Waterwise Garden Irrigators – trained irrigators provide advice on and install low water use irrigation systems.
- Waterwise Irrigation Design Shop – a program to train staff of these shops in waterwise irrigation issues to inform their customers on how to design and install a waterwise irrigation system.
- Waterwise Garden Landscapers – landscapers trained in providing ‘design and install’ advice for waterwise gardens.
- Waterwise Garden Centres – are endorsed to sell low water use plants and other garden related water efficiency products, and staff are trained to provide customers with information on waterwise gardens.
- Waterwise Lawnmowers – trained waterwise lawnmowing contractors can provide customers with waterwise advice on a range of garden activities and products designed to maximise water savings.
- Waterwise Land Developments – an expansion of the Waterwise Display Villages program to cover shopping areas, housing estates and industrial areas, these programs promote water sensitive urban design for an entire development.
- Waterwise Display Villages – developers and builders use water saving practices inside and outside display homes.
- Waterwise Plants for Perth – the 'Waterwise Plants for Perth Gardens' directory is based upon information provided by Western Australia's wholesale plant growers. The plants listed are those that, once established, will flourish on one watering day a week or less during summer. The list can be found on the Water Corporation’s website by common name or botanical name. You can also choose a waterwise plant that best suits your particular needs through the website.
- Waterwise Partners – Bunnings and Tradelink.
- Waterwise Rebate Program – this program was established in 2003 following a recommendation in the ‘State Water Strategy.’ Over its lifetime it has provided rebates for 15 different products like washing machines, rainwater tanks, garden bores and greywater reuse systems.
Waterwise programs have helped us to save about 45 gigalitres a year since 2001. This represents a 17% saving in average household water usage.
Current Situation
About 200,000 Western Australians each year access goods and services provided by companies endorsed by the Water Corporation as ‘Waterwise’.
The Waterwise Rebate Program has been very successful with 320,000 householders claiming rebates worth a total of $39 million. Major water savings have been achieved from rebates for garden bores, washing machines and rainwater tanks.
New programs
The Waterwise Councils program has been developed by the Water Corporation in conjunction with the Department of Water and the International Council of Local Environmental Initiatives to promote sound water management and water use efficiency in local Government.
The Cities of Perth, Stirling and Kalgoorlie have been selected to take part in a pilot study to test the criteria for endorsement as a Waterwise Council. The first series of training sessions has been completed for council staff involved in water management.
The Water Corporation is working with the councils involved in the pilot study to assist them to meet the criteria, and will extend the program to other metropolitan and country councils as required.
Bunnings - A big, new Waterwise partner
Bunnings hardware stores joined the Water Corporation’s Waterwise Partner program early in 2007. This builds on the traditional focus of Waterwise programs on garden centres, irrigation specialists and domestic plumbing suppliers.
A training program has been implemented for Bunnings plumbing and garden employees so they can pass on this knowledge to customers. Bunnings is entering into contracts with manufacturers of greywater recycling systems and other water efficient irrigation products for promotion in its stores. Bunnings has committed to installing rainwater collection equipment in most of its stores across Australia.
The Future
The existing Waterwise programs are reviewed regularly. The Water Corporation is committed to ensuring the ongoing success of these programs through auditing businesses endorsed as being Waterwise. New programs are always in development.
In addition there are a number of other water efficiency initiatives being considered for homes and gardens. These are detailed fully in the ‘Water efficiency’ fact sheet but some of the more relevant initiatives are also included here.
Retrofits
On average, approximately 15 kilolitres a year can be saved in homes by replacing
inefficient showerheads, installing tap flow control devices and fixing leaks while a further 20 kilolitres a year could be saved through a retrofit of inefficient toilet suites.
The former concept has been trialled on three occasions with either the customer or the Water Corporation paying the full cost. In the third trial (April 2007) a free water audit, leak repair and installation of flow control devices for taps and showers was undertaken with a 40% participation rate. Guidelines have been determined for the previous trials, and under this proposed scheme an incentive would be paid to customers who complied with them.
Lawn replacement program
Approximately 100 kilolitres a year can be saved by replacing 100m2 of well maintained turf with paving or synthetic grass, or 50 kilolitres a year by replacing this area with a Waterwise garden. Additional financial savings can be realised by households due to the lower maintenance requirements of paving, synthetic grass and Waterwise gardens. In this initiative, guidelines would be established to determine what would qualify as turf and replacement materials and an incentive would be paid to customers who complied with these guidelines.
Winter Sprinkler Ban
The introduction of a total sprinkler ban over the winter months would be expected to result in estimated water savings of 2–4 gigalitres state wide. Guidelines covering exemptions for new gardens and gardens under cover would need to be developed.
Domestic Water Use Study
Knowledge of the end use of water informs decisions taken on water saving and the prediction of future water demand. Household end use is the major use of Water Corporation water supply schemes. With increasing focus in recent years on water use efficiency, the Water Corporation has recognised the need to have up to date knowledge of household water end use.
A project has commenced for the Perth Region which will update a previous study conducted in 1998-2001 to provide updated information on household water use. The project is scheduled for completion by December 2008.
Sustainability considerations
Economic | Social and Cultural | Environmental |
| Waterwise programs are low cost per kilolitre of water saved. | Waterwise programs allow householders to maintain their lifestyle with the use of less water. | Saves water and energy. |
| Provides industry with recognition and the potential to diversify into new and growing markets. | Creating multi-disciplinary communities that work together to improve urban water management. | Defers the need for development of other water sources. |
| Contributes to industry profitability by ensuring continued sales of products and services that use less water. | Partners with the community to use water efficiently. | Many Waterwise programs have other benefits – such as reduced nutrient use or broader environmental education. |
The Water Corporation has sought to address the major sustainability considerations by:
- maintaining and regularly reviewing Waterwise programs, and in particular undertaking audits of those businesses endorsed as being Waterwise to ensure the ongoing credibility of the program;
- spreading the message – expanding the Waterwise programs to more businesses to reach more areas of the community;
- enhancing Waterwise programs where appropriate to address new water savings opportunities while ensuring maintenance of desired lifestyles;
- regularly consulting with industry groups and any potential new groups to ensure support;
- regularly surveying and engaging the community on the costs and benefits of the programs to make improvements where necessary; and
- looking for synergies in the programs between potential water and energy savings.
Potential source yield
Waterwise programs, together with rebates, save about 5 gigalitres a year of water. This is expected to continue and the impact could grow to as much as 10 gigalitres a year.
Costs
The current Waterwise programs cost less than $1 per kilolitre of water saved.
More Information
Further information on Waterwise ways for WA and other water efficiency measures around the home and garden can be found on the Water Efficiency and Water Efficiency Measures information sheets.
Key
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Potential source yield (in 50 year planning horizon)
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Potential cost (2007 $)