Eurobodalla Integrated Water Cycle Management Strategy

Eurobodalla Integrated Water Cycle Management Strategy
8 Regional Water Cycle Management
Opportunities
8.1 Opportunities for Managing the Regional Water Demands
8.1.1 Status of Current Measures
Eurobodalla has made significant gains in water conservation and demand reduction. For
example:
The ‘user pays’ pricing and community awareness programs have resulted in the
household water consumption being on average 20-30% lower than many other
coastal towns in NSW.
About 10% of the total reclaimed water produced is recycled.
Planning and building controls that actively promote energy efficiency have also
significantly contributed to lower water consumption and the reduction of
greenhouse gas emissions.
8.1.2 Introduction
Whilst the current demand reduction measures have been successful in reducing per capita
water consumption, the annual water consumption will continue to grow as the population
increases resulting in environmental impacts. The community and Council together have
the opportunity to develop further strategies at their own discretion to slow the growth in
water consumption. It is important to note that in order to protect and sustainably manage
the water resources for the future, Eurobodalla would need to continue a sustained pursuit
of a multi-faceted approach to water conservation and demand reduction.
Recommended water conservation and demand reduction programs to be implemented by
Council should include elements such as, water demand reduction through appropriate
planning controls, improved water efficiency, increasing water conservation awareness
through promotion and education, distribution system loss reduction, pricing, urban water
harvesting and water recycling. Effective initiatives are also required to ensure sustainable
commercial growth as increased future commercial water requirements will not be
accommodated for by the new licensing regime under the Water Management Act.
It is crucial that these efforts be sustained and the benefits achieved a decade in advance
of future supply augmentation decisions. The best way to ensure that any water
conservation strategy undertaken will provide long term results is for Council to make a firm
commitment to the program. This commitment may take many forms, some of which
include providing an upper level Council policy covering water conservation, providing
adequate staffing resources and making funds available to implement and effectively
monitor the program options, and including Council’s operations as an integral part of the
program.
The specific staging of the individual options may change depending on the uptake levels
and demand reductions achieved by the water conservation strategy. Therefore it is
important that Council provide resources to monitor the effectiveness of measures that
have been implemented. The direct effects of some components of the demand
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