Andrew Chapman
It is imperative that the organisation attends to future challenges and opportunities with water sustainability. SEW was recently runner up for an award by the Australian Water Association in relation to its important work with water sustainability. These challenges are very important as Melbourne’s population continues to grow @ approximately 2000 new residents per week placing huge demands on water supplies via the mains from the Thompson Dam and the Upper Yarra Dam.
He presented information in relation to water consumption from the mains supplies by the Melbourne population as far back as 1997 compared to the reduction of consumption as of today. He explained that if we had continued along to use water at the 1997 rate we would have run out!
The campaigns to get the message across to the population to conserve water and the introduction of methods to recycle water along with some of the new building requirements had contributed to a reduction of water consumption from the main supplies. Household tanks and types of appliances used had also assisted as well as planting of more Australian native trees and shrubs in gardens.
Currently a lot of work is being conducted by SEW to capture storm water. This work has been very innovative and will assist further in conserving main supplies water. The methods of sustainability currently being used in the recent and ongoing developments at Fishermans Bend were also presented.