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Water Action Plan
Council's Water Action Plan 2008-2013 responds to the ongoing drought, climate change impacts and the need for Council to take a leadership role in saving water and improving water quality.
The plan incorporates many of Council's existing water saving programs and includes a range of long-term water saving targets for Council and the community to ensure we continue to reduce water consumption in the future.
The plan sets targets to reduce Council's water consumption by 25% and the community's water consumption by 20% by 2012 (when compared to 2002 water usage figures). Looking further ahead, Council aims to reduce its water consumption by 35% by 2020 then 40% by 2030 and for the community to reduce its water consumption by 25% by 2020 and 30% by 2030.
It is important for Council to lead by example and ensure that the community is aware that Council is doing everything possible to reduce its own water consumption in a sustainable manner and to encourage residents to do the same.
The Water Action Plan 2008-2013 includes a number of incentives and programs to assist the community to reduce its use of water. These include:
- Community workshops and other information on water saving measures and issues
- Continuing to provide a Council rebate of 7% on the price of a residential water tank, and consideration of further incentives for residents or small businesses installing water saving systems
- Providing water and energy audits to some residential properties and small businesses that participate in Council water-saving programs
- Encouraging community groups using Council facilities to save water and apply for community water grants as well as providing advice on how to implement water saving actions
These activities complement a range of water saving measures included in the plan that Council plans to undertake, including:
- Ensuring water sensitive design principles are included in all new capital works projects and maintenance practices undertaken by Council
- Progressively converting all sports fields to warm season grasses, which require less watering. Also, considering the use of synthetic sporting surfaces, depending on club preferences
- Progressively retrofitting Council-owned buildings with water efficient fixtures and fittings
- Continuing to install water harvesting and re-use systems for rainwater, stormwater and recycled water where possible
Download a pdf of the Water Action Plan 2008-2013 or pick up a hard copy at Council's Customer Service Centres at the Whitehorse Civic Centre in Nunawading, Forest Hill Chase Shopping Centre and Box Hill Town Hall.
Examples of Council's water-saving achievements to date:
- Installation of a UV disinfecting plant at Aqualink Box Hill to save 2500 kls of water per year
- Water saving initiatives at Aqualink Nunawading
- Launched the 'Turned Off' campaign as on ongoing staff education and awareness program to reduce water use
- Over three million litres of water recycled at Council's nursery since upgrading its watering system
- Installation of water tanks at Box Hill Town Hall providing 80% of water requirements for ground floor toilets
- Planting of dry season grasses at Council's sporting reserves
- Upgrading of irrigation systems at Council sports grounds
- Water efficient fittings installed at Lucknow and Blackburn childcare centres during their upgrade
- Assistance provided to the community in applying for water grants for local water-saving projects
- Drought tolerant plants planted in council reserves, gardens, shopping centres and median strips. Once established, these plants will require very little if any water, but will still give us an attractive display to help beautify the City