This year Perth experienced its driest winter on record with the lowest ever rainfall in the southern part of the state and by far the lowest run off on record. Only 13 gigalitres this year of water flow into our dams, compared with an average of over 100 gigalitres per annum over the past decade.
The new advertising campaign centres on the ‘Target 60’ slogan. We all need to cut our water use by 60 litres a day.
According to the Water Corporation this works out to be around 10% of our current daily water use. This will help save around 13 billion litres of water over the coming months. In turn, this will go towards the 76 billion litres we need to avoid serious water restrictions next summer. Furthermore, it is emphasised that these savings cannot be made every now and then. They have to be made every day.
Recent price increases amount to almost 18 per cent for Western Australia’s domestic water users. It has also been confirmed by the WA Government that another increase in water cost will be introduced in 2011. Next year’s cost will rise by an additional 8 per cent.
Saving 60 litres a day amounts to 21 900 litres per year. By replacing an average size lawn with a synthetic grass, a householder can save approximately 75 – 100 000 litres per year, four times the Water Corporation target! This does not take into account the added benefits of having a maintenance free, beautiful looking lawn all year round.
The following are some additional facts posted by the Water Corporation in the West Australian on 27 November 2010:
· Even with a second desalination plant in full flow and new groundwater plans in place, we need an additional 76 gigalitres to help avoid serous water restrictions next summer.
· Perth householders are by far the highest users of scheme water and therefore offer the greatest potential for saving.
· Last year, 71% of scheme water use was residential, compared with 19% for industry and business.
