Target 150 | Save Water Victoria

Making every drop of Melbourne's water count for a growing city

After four years of above-average rainfall Melbourne's reservoirs are full with the latest Annual Water Outlook showing current storages sitting at 88.4% but history has shown that they can drop quickly.

Annual Water Outlook

So as our city grows and our climate gets hotter and drier it is important we make every drop count.

Melbourne's population grew by around 140000 in the last year more than the entire population of Ballarat.

"Our biggest reservoir is the Thomson Dam which refills during the wetter years so it is ready to supply Melbourne during periods of drought" said Melbourne Water Head of Water Supply David Norman.

"It helps when imagining our water supply network to think of the Thomson Dam as a savings account that we try to keep as full as possible so we can manage during future drier periods."

Melbourne's water mostly flows from east to west with the water moving largely under the force of gravity though water is pumped from parts of the supply network such as Greenvale and Yan Yean to Wallan and Whittlesea in the north and Kallista and Monbulk in the Dandenongs.

"Melbourne Water can also supply as far as Geelong to the west northwest as far as Woodend Mornington Peninsula to the south Inverloch and Phillip Island in the southeast and east to Warragul and the Yarra Valley."

Our drinking water supply is also topped up by harvesting water from the Yarra River which provides 50 to 60 billion litres annually. As the city grows and we continue to supply water to parts of regional Victoria we may need a further 85 billion litres of drinking water each year by 2030.

"Our forecast assumes that we make full use of our desalination plant and reduce water usage to 150 litres per person per day" said David.

Target 150 is a water efficiency initiative that encourages each Melburnian to limit their daily water consumption to below 150 litres per person per day. However last year the average consumer used 162 litres indicating the need for a more concerted effort. We all have a role to play to make every drop count.

"That's about a bucket a day extra for each person and a small amount can make a big difference."

Since the Millennium Drought Melbourne Water and the retail water companies have invested in a range of water saving initiatives including supplying recycled water for industrial agricultural and residential use and supporting more efficient use of water in homes and businesses.

Permanent water-saving rules and Target 150

Permanent water-saving rules were introduced in 2011 and are always in place so that we use water efficiently. But we can all do more - and initiatives like Target 150 are a reminder to keep doing our bit to conserve our precious water supplies.

Know the rules

The Victorian Government's water-saving rules encourage a common-sense approach to the everyday use of drinking water. They do not apply to recycled reclaimed rain or grey water except where it is supplemented by drinking water.

Under the permanent rules water fountains and features must recirculate water.

In summary:

Hand-held hoses can only be used if fitted with a trigger nozzle and free from leaks.

Hand-held hoses buckets or watering cans can be used at any time to water household and commercial gardens and lawns as well as public gardens lawns and playing spaces.

Watering systems can only be used between 6pm and 10am and must be fitted with a rain or soil moisture sensor if being used to water public gardens lawns and playing spaces.

Water cannot be used to clean hard surfaces including driveways paths concrete tiles and timber decking. There are a few exceptions in which case a high-pressure water cleaning device or hand-held hose or bucket must be used:
-:- after emergencies like accidents fires or health and safety hazards
-:- where surfaces have been stained - and then only once a season
during construction or renovations.

-:- Water cannot be used in a fountain or water feature unless it is recirculating the water.

Target 150

Target 150 is a voluntary water-efficiency initiative to get us thinking about how much water we use.

Put simply it encourages us to limit our water consumption to 150 litres per person per day.

Melburnians are already great water savers: our average daily water use is currently at around 157 litres - but we can't get complacent.

Tips for saving water Permanent water-saving rules and Target 150

Source: Making every drop of Melbourne's water count for a growing city
Tuesday 17 December 2024 | melbournewater.com.au

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