Why should you conserve water?
Like many things around us, we seldom appreciate what is plentiful and easy
to obtain. What could be more plentiful in the Burdekin than water?
But think again, the water we use in our homes does not just magically appear.
Considerable public money has been invested in providing the pumps and water
mains to service the properties and continued high usage and increased demands
will accelerate the need to upgrade the system and for the establishment of
alternative raw water supplies.
Alternative raw water supplies will be restricted to the Burdekin or Haughton
Rivers and will require expenditure in excess of $6,000,000 to provide expensive
water treatment plans to ensure water quality meets acceptable standards for
human consumption.
When you consider that only about 1% of the total water used by each property
is for direct human consumption it is essential water conservation programmes
be established for the water that is used for showers, washing and in particular
your garden.
The allocation of water to each property, the annual entitlement, is generous
compared to many other comparable municipalities across Queensland but property
owners still need to control water consumption so that they do not exceed
their entitlements.
You pay for every drop of water used, whether it is used wisely or wasted,
so water conservation is something we should all practice.
Where does your water go?
To assist you in understanding where your water goes, the following estimates
give a guide to typical water use patterns for various activities around the
home -
| Shower |
- up to 250 litres for an average 8 minute shower |
| Bath |
- 120 litres |
| Toilet |
- 13 litres full flush |
| Dishwashing |
- by hand 18 litres per wash |
| |
- machine up to 90 litres per wash |
| Clothes Washing |
- large automatic up to 250 litres per wash |
| Car Washing |
- 100 to 300 litres |
| Garden Sprinkler |
- varies - 1000 litres per hour not unusual |
| Dripping Tap |
- 30 to 500 litres per day |
| Leaking Pipe |
- 300 litres per day |
Basic components to a Water Conservation Program
Step One - Economise
Look at your water use habits developed over a lifetime. Two-thirds of water
usage on typical Burdekin properties is on lawns and gardens. Also a lot of
water goes down the drain because we have always thought of water being plentiful
and cheap. Typically about 75% of water usage inside your house occurs
in the bathroom and laundry, very little is used for human consumption.
Be aware of the amount of water used and look for ways to use less whenever
you can. Measure usage through your sprinklers, know what every hour of watering
uses. Be selective when next buying a clothes washing machine or dishwasher,
give preference to those which use less water.
Step Two - Repair Leaks
Check that you do not have leaking taps or pipes. Turn off all taps and check
whether the flow indicator on the meter is moving or the red numbers are turning.
These can only move if water is flowing eg. through a dripping tap. Replace
faulty tap washers and pipes where necessary. A leaking tap or pipe could
result in your usage exceeding the annual entitlement and an excess water
charge being applied.
A leak of just one drop per second wastes in excess of 10,000 litres of water
a year. Leaks are among the greatest enemies of a water conservation programme
and cannot be taken lightly.
Do not be surprised if the top meter capsule rotates a little - it is designed
to be able to rotate to allow the meter register to be easily read.
Step Three - Install Water Saving Devices
There are many devices you can buy and have installed by your plumber to
reduce your water use. These include faucet aerators, flow regulators for
shower heads, and toilet dual flush systems (if not already installed).
The use of tap timers or automatic watering systems can have a significant
impact on the efficient use of water to the lawn and garden areas.
Conserving Water
Water is a precious and limited resource. By practicing the following water
conservation tips you could save money for Council and yourself.
- Garden - mulching (compost, chip bark, etc.) is an effective technique
for conserving water.
- You may only need to water your lawn twice per week (over watering of
plants and lawn can be just as damaging to growth as under watering).
- Review your watering programme to demand only, with watering carried out
when plants or lawn show signs of needing it.
- It is best not to water in windy conditions or in the heat of the day.
- Monitor your usage at the meter on a regular basis.
Meter Type
All properties are provided with a Water Meter. Council reads all meters
in both June/July and November/December.
Meter Reading
The register on the meter can have seven or eight numbers on white wheels.
Four (4) of the numbers are black and three (3) or four (4) are red.
The black numbers within the brackets are read in kilolitres. Only
the black numbers are used by Council for measuring of annual consumption.
The red numbers read hundreds and below down to the tenths of a litre. The
red number on the last wheel in the illustration indicates 1/2 of a litre.
The red markings are only used by Council for testing purposes.
The meters automatically reset to zero when they reach 10,000 kilolitres.
Backflow Prevention
Installation of underground garden lawn sprinkler systems of the town water
supply must have backflow prevention devices installed. Any person who has
already or proposes to install a watering system should contact the Council
Plumbing Section to discuss the procedures for installation of backflow prevention
equipment.
This is necessary to ensure public health standards are met and potential
risks of contamination of the town water supply are eliminated.
Maintenance of your meter
- Council is responsible for maintaining the water service from the pipe
in the street up to and including the water meter for normal wear and tear.
The property owner/occupier is responsible for the cost of repair (by Council)
of damage, other than normal wear and tear, caused to the meter and pipe
work to the meter, by any person or thing. Any fault in the water service
including the meter should be reported to Council's Engineering Services
Division.
- The occupier/owner of any premises is responsible for maintaining the
supply pipes from the meter to each tap in the property. Any maintenance
required is to be carried out by a Licensed Plumber at the owner's cost.
- If your meter is not working or is found to be reading inaccurately, Council
is empowered under its by-laws to estimate the consumption and charge accordingly.
A faulty meter may cost you more in excess charges therefore it is
in your interest to regularly check that your meter is working. Report any
fault to Council's Engineering Services Division.
- When a meter is replaced monitor your water consumption carefully as your
old meter may have been significantly under reading your consumption due
to its age. New meters measure the volume more accurately and you will need
to review your water usage habits.
Remember: It is an offence to interfere with your meter
or service or to otherwise take water illegally.