Water Forever Blog
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Water Forever's 50 year plan.
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Water Forever in the South West?
When looking at the issues confronting us in "Water Forever", the South West of the State is in a challenging situation. Reduced rainfall in the South West's water supply south of the metro area is having an enormous impact, both directly and indirectly. As well as flows to public water supply dams decreasing dramatically, [by more than 50 per cent since the mid 70's according the Water Forever document] there are other consequences that aren't quite so obvious. The magnificent trees of the South West, for example, are already beginning to show signs of stress from a long term reduction in rainfall. It's quite confronting to read in Water Forver that CSIRO are predicting that in a worst case emissions scenario, annual rainfalls could reduce by up to 60 percent in 2070. Imagine what kind of a radical impact that would have on our way of life? Everything from the food on the table, through to the way we travel, the forests and oceans that we take for granted...our very livelihoods would be on the line. If you factor in extreme weather as well, storms and floods etc, then the future becomes even more uncertain. It'll be interesting to see what the CSIRO comes up with when it reports on the South West as part of the federal govts "Extending the CSIRO Murray-Darling Basin sustainable yields project beyond the Baisin" program. That's due to report in Dec 2009, so we've got to wait a while. But it can only be good that the commonwealth has come on board to look at water management planning for a region which is so important to the state and the country and, with its biodiversity and grain exports, the world.
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Pester Power
Does the Water Corp have School pack aimed at PP/Yr 1,2 to spell out how they can make a difference? A visit to the schools from a frog character and a pack to re-iterate what the message is would certainly have children taking the message home. Give children the tools to enact change within their homes and I'm sure they'll use them!
Watewater treatment should be in three stages
It has been shown that wastewater treatment is very effective and environmentally more sound when three stages of water treatment are used, and that tertiary treatments include building and maintaining wetland ecologies that remove organic wastes through sustained bacterial treatment within the exposed wetlands. These should be started for small communities and built on. It would seem to be a more sound practice than reverse osmosis, which relies on power and somewhat complex water handling processes.
Public spaces to reduce water consumption
I think all public spaces (Ovals parks etc) should have better designs so that they take advantage of runoff, capture and store water locally to supplement irrigation, take advantage of natural shade, use design topology so that there is less evaporation by the prevailing winds, use smart irrigation that doesn't over-water.
watercorp to look to renewable energy sources for their operations
I think that even Watercorps operations should look to include more renewable energy sources, solar pumps etc
dig up your verge rebate
I hate having a street verge covered in lawn, and it's not my land. The grass was there when I bought the house. I could get a rebate for my new washing machine that saves much less water per year than NOT having a grass verge. But I cant afford the cost of digging it up and replacing it, and letting it die and all go to dust is not really an option. How about this: The local council provides the bobcat and truck to dig it out the grass and refill since it's their land, the state govt give me a $1000 rebate on the verge treatment (brick pavers, gravel, concrete, plastic grass) and I will choose the cover.
swimming pool suburbia madness / sucess
I live in a new establishing 'green; suburb and nearly everyone is installing or wishing to have a pool (most blocks are 600squre metres so not very big). They do not install pool covers and tanks . We have four government pools and one private pool in our shire that I am aware of here. We need to educate people like transport to use community pools and not desire pools at home that are not environmentally friendly. I a have a lovely water wise native garden which creates hours of play and discovery for my three year old and friends and we frequent the local pool once a week. I almost feel there is a societal pressure to have a pool in suburbia is a sign of sucess...I think more like suburbia madness. We need more education regarding pools and their water wastage and environmental vacuum they create in gardens.
Swimming pool blankets
I think that all pools should have a pool blanket, and a rainwater tank purely for "topping up" the pool
Cold shower water
I once made a shower head collector for down the beach to supply some low pressure water to wash my dog. It was just a plastic bag to dangle under the shower head & some PVC tubing long enough to get to the ground. Instead of a big dish in the shower, this could be tidier and easier to direct into a handlable carry vessel in or near the shower.
rainwater pond filter
I wonder if it's worth while having a reedy, pygmy perch(or other larvae eater) stocked pond to filter & purify my rainwater. I have ALL my rain water exiting two pipes & think the reeds could filter/consume the solids/nutrients from the runoff plus fish. This semi treated water can then be pumped to varoius tanks for non potable uses. Is it worth while or a waste of evaporation and money? I guess there will be minimal 'treatment' during high flows and I run the risk of fish nitrogens but like the idea of a cool home 'wetland'. Any thoughs???
Saving Water
I have noticed that many commercial businesses,car dealers etc., have their lawn sprinklers on all winter even in periods of heavy rain.Some of the sprinklers are faulty and water sprays the footpath and runs to waste in the gutter.Perhaps a leaflet in their letterboxes may encourage some maintenance and conservation.
Seawater Desalination
What are your thoughts on seawater desalination? click here for the Seawater Desalination information sheet.
Rainwater Tanks
What are your thoughts on rainwater tanks? click here for the Rainwater Tanks information sheet.
Water from the Kimberley
What are your thoughts on sourcing water from the Kimberley?
click here for the "Water from the North" information sheet.
click here for the "Water from the North" information sheet.
Each year we delay we wil pay a higher price
The amount of water stored in the Gnangara Mound decreases by over 45 GL per year - the same amount produced by the desalination plant at Kwinana.
Every year over 110 GL of highly treated wastewater is discharged into the Ocean off Perth. Research has shown that in can be safely recharged into the aquifer in many areas. Even when we discharged raw sewage into the soil and aquifer (through septic tanks) problems were only apparent in areas with "gutless" grey sands.
We also discharge about 100GL per year of stormwater each year into the river and ocean, and this is only in main drains, with council drains adding even more. Where this water has been diverted into the aquifer (eg Town of Cottesloe) it has helped provide water for irrigating public open space and stopped salt water intrusion.
When will we see these wastewaters as valuable resources and slow or stop the decline of the aquifer storage ? Each year we delay we lose more wetlands and an irreplacable source of non-potable water.
Every year over 110 GL of highly treated wastewater is discharged into the Ocean off Perth. Research has shown that in can be safely recharged into the aquifer in many areas. Even when we discharged raw sewage into the soil and aquifer (through septic tanks) problems were only apparent in areas with "gutless" grey sands.
We also discharge about 100GL per year of stormwater each year into the river and ocean, and this is only in main drains, with council drains adding even more. Where this water has been diverted into the aquifer (eg Town of Cottesloe) it has helped provide water for irrigating public open space and stopped salt water intrusion.
When will we see these wastewaters as valuable resources and slow or stop the decline of the aquifer storage ? Each year we delay we lose more wetlands and an irreplacable source of non-potable water.
Rainwater Tanks on ALL new buildings.
Incorporate requirements for rainwater catchment and use in ALL NEW constructions, domestic housing AS WELL AS industrial/commercial buildings, schools, car parks, shopping centres, farm sheds, and so on.
Grass everywhere
Grass - every realestate developement has miles of unusable grass (for looks only). Our covernants at Dalyellup stated 'predominantly grass' for the front garden. When we told them we didn't want grass they refused. We need to change the culture of grass everywhere.
Private bores should be gradually phased out
Private bores should be gradually phased out.
There are various sustainable options available to supplement scheme water supply such as rainwater tanks and greywater recycling systems. Private bore water use to be allowed only if there is no other option available. Private bore users to follow strict water quality monitoring to ensure sustainable extraction of ground water.
There are various sustainable options available to supplement scheme water supply such as rainwater tanks and greywater recycling systems. Private bore water use to be allowed only if there is no other option available. Private bore users to follow strict water quality monitoring to ensure sustainable extraction of ground water.
Frog Conservation
Frog conservation has never been on the agenda in this area. The frog breeding swamp and bushland between Lowry Street & Leach Highway was sold off by Main Roads, cleared, dewatered (illegally)and built on. We have had no frogs in this area since. The frog breeding swamp between Shelley Bridge and Park Beach Close on the north side of Leach Highway was filled in three years ago by I dont know who. I could name other breeding sites similarly destroyed. What is the point of asking the public to help save the frogs when Government and Local Government Departments are busy permanently destroying their natural habitats.
Sick of Swimming pools
It infuriates me to see thick liftouts about swimming pools and water features in the newspapers over summer whilst news reports tell us to conserve this precious resource. It should be made law that all swimming pools are fed via rainwater collection ie gutters or tanks or not at all.
Ways to Save Water
Tell us ways that you are saving water in and outside the home.
Water in the Environment
What is important to you about how we interact with the natural environment?
Water Sources
What is important to you about where we source water from?
How We Use Water
What is important to you about how we use water?
Ways to Save Water
Tell us ways that you are saving water in and outside the home.