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What we are doing to save water
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Water is vital to our everyday lives: we use it for washing, watering and especially drinking - the very basic human needs.
Our communities depend upon it, our economy relies on it and our environmental survives by it.
However, rainfall has been below average for nine years and depleted water storage levels.
Wodonga Council currently has a Soil and Water Management Policy and Urban Storm Water Management Plan.
A Sustainable Water Use Plan is currently under development and will be a valuable water management and conservation tool.
As a result of the current water restrictions North East Water has requested council to provide a Water Conservation Plan to deliver a 10 per cent reduction in order to continue to water recreation areas.
Wodonga Council operations currently comply with all water authority requirements and many practices are currently employed to conserve and use water wisely.
Although Wodonga is often not subject to high level water restrictions it is important that the council is seen to be leading by example in this critical regional issue.
Taking the lead
The following actions have been implemented in the City of Wodonga over the past five years.
Parks & Gardens:
- Implementation of underground drip irrigation systems.
- Use of soil wetting agents.
- Increased mulching practices.
- Increased use of drought tolerant species.
- Introduced use of hydro cell flakes (leaches water over a 3 week period).
- Use of more efficient irrigation controllers.
- Timing of watering set to middle of night and early morning.
- Reduced watering times on key areas such as sporting ovals to achieve 10% requirement of NEW for our Water Conservation Plan - Recreation Areas
- Elimination of all manual hosing and sprinkler systems.
- Vandal proof keys fitted on all outlets (except in amenities and BBQ areas).
- Review of tapping's in reserve and progressive implementation of capping of all.
- Water features are all reticulated systems.
- Implementation of water saving operational actions at the sale yards.
- Briefs now include requirement for all future landscaping activities to include underground. drip systems, mulch, hydro cell flakes and drought resistant plantings.
Buildings, Facilities & Developments
Introduction of AAA rated equipment in some areas.
- Provision of dishwasher in staff room.
- Encouragement of the use of rainwater tanks for storm water detention on unit development plans.
- Provision for use of reuse water at LOGIC.
In Process Water Saving Actions
The following actions are currently in the process of being investigated or implemented.
- Changing irrigated reserves with winter grass species to summer grass species.
- Water audits and implementation of water saving actions for Wodonga football club facilities (awaiting outcome of Smart Water Fund application).
- Implementation of the Racecourse Reuse Water Strategy. (Funds secured)
- Implementation of the use of reuse water at LOGIC.
- Formation of a staff water monitoring group.
- Pearce St and Thomas Mitchell Drive Stage 3 to be fitted with underground drip irrigation.
- Involvement in the EPA Water Sensitive urban Design Forum.
Actions for consideration
The following actions should be considered for the future water sustainability for our city.
Parks & Gardens
- Retrofitting all roundabout irrigation with underground drip systems.
- Review of planting strategy for roundabouts in CBD to allow more drought tolerant species.
- Replacement of grass types in all areas and review of alternatives to grass.
- Installation of water sensor systems which monitor soil moisture and trigger watering only when necessary.
- Installation of rain tanks at public toilet and BBQ facilities.
- Review of operating systems for watering newly established trees with a view to phasing out use of water tankers.
Buildings & Other Facilities
- Use of covers at indoor and outdoor pool centre's to reduce evaporation.
- Retrofit of dual flush toilets in all facilities and requirement to fit in all new facilities.
- Retrofit of water saving tap ware in all facilities and requirement to fit in all new facilities.
- Ensure all future council buildings and projects incorporate cutting edge water sensitive urban design.
- Retrofit all current buildings for water capture and reuse.
- Further review of sale yards water usage.
Residential & Commercial Developments
- Implement planning permit conditions for future residential/commercial subdivisions requiring water saving technologies such as rainwater tanks connected to toilet, grey water systems for gardens, water sensitive industrial practices etc.
- Implement planning permit conditions for developers to integrate 2nd pipe options.
- Implement planning permit conditions for renovations and extensions to require water saving features.
- Investigate future implementation of additional 3rd pipe systems.
General
- Investigate further use of reuse and storm water options for other applications e.g. filling of water truck for road works.
- Investigate additional metering to allow more effective tracking of water usage areas. E.g. amenities separated from irrigation at sporting fields.
- Discuss with North East Water potential to access grey water to replace some of our current potable water uses.
- Support North East Water community education campaign and share with the community the actions that council is undertaking.
For more information, go to http://www.nerwa.vic.gov.au/
