Page 3747 - Week 12 - Thursday, 22 November 2007
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wastewater, reclaimed water, from five per cent to 20 per cent by 2013. The intention is for this target to be met by source substitution as part of the potable water reduction target.
The ACT government’s water efficiency incentives program, an initiative to move towards meeting potable water targets, commenced in 2004. The program is administered by Sustainable Policy and Programs, Territory and Municipal Services, and targets the residential, commercial, government and school sectors, to encourage water savings through incentive rebates, audit recommendations and educational information and advice. It includes the implementation of water-sensitive urban design principles.
Specific program achievements include the following. More than 2,331 GardenSmart tune-ups and more than 7,260 WaterSmart homes tune-ups have been completed since the government’s garden and home water tune-up program commenced in December 2004. Some 589 single-flush toilets have been replaced with dual-flush toilets, thanks to a $100 per toilet rebate program. And 10,953 shower head rebates have been provided under the think water, act water program. The rainwater tank rebate program has resulted in 1,216 rainwater tank rebates and 52 internal connection rebates being issued. Assistance has been provided to the commercial and institutional sectors through the provision of data logging of water consumption and walk-through water audits. To date 79 commercial audits have been conducted.
WaterSmart homes registrations closed on 27 July 2007. Several companies accredited in the ACT under the ACT-NSW greenhouse gas abatement scheme are now providing services to supply and install water-efficient shower heads and energy-efficient light bulbs at no cost to ACT residents. I have taken up the scheme with the light bulbs: we had an audit at home, and all of my original incandescent light bulbs have been replaced with neon units; it makes a huge difference to one’s electricity bill.
These programs allows the ACT government to redirect WaterSmart homes funding into other programs like the GardenSmart service and to look at developing new programs to assist households to be more water efficient. The ACT government is working with government and non-government schools to improve water efficiency through its sustainable schools program. Twenty-two audits have been completed; a further 20 schools will receive water audits to identify water savings in their school grounds and buildings in this financial year.
The planning and environment committee has visited a couple of schools and had a look at their water and sprinkler systems. We went to the boys grammar school and looked at the new system there, called KISSS, which installs dripper systems in place of overhead sprinkler systems. That is a very efficient program.
As the effects of climate change become clear, we must ensure that we are all prepared. The government’s water efficiency initiatives will help Canberrans to help introduce water-saving measures to their homes, business and schools. Since think water, act water commenced, $6,109,000 has been spent on the water efficiency incentives program from 2003-04 to 2006-07. Indications to date are that the programs administered under think water, act water have reduced the use of drinking
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