What we are doing to save water

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 our water storage levels.

Wodonga Council currently has a Soil and Water Management Policy and Urban Storm Water Management Plan. These aim to protect our water quality.

Taking the lead

As a result of water restrictions over the past few years, the council has implemented a number of actions and programs:

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 tappings 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.
The council has also received funding from the State Government through the Drought Relief Program to implement a number of projects, including work on Birallee, Martin Park and Kelly Park ovals.

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.

Wodonga Racecourse - creation of wetlands and retention basin collection of urban stormwater run-off from White Box Rise Estate. The stormwater is collected and used for irrigation of Wodonga Racecourse, Auskick ovals, the athletics ovals, White Box Rise Estate and the new Wodonga South Primary School. This project was a joint project with the Wodonga Turf Club, Wodonga Council, White Box Rise Estate developers and funding from the Victorian Government.

Changing irrigated reserves with winter grass species to summer grass species.
Water audits and implementation of water saving actions undertaken for Wodonga football club facilities.
Pearce St and Thomas Mitchell Drive Stage 3 to be fitted with underground drip irrigation.
All new subdivisions to incorporate water-sensitive urban design features.

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.

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.

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 2^nd pipe options.
Implement planning permit conditions for renovations and extensions to require water saving features.
Investigate future implementation of additional 3^rd pipe systems.

Investigate with North East Water the retention of grey water
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 www.nerwa.vic.gov.au

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