ACT Government voluntary water restrictions

November 17, 2002

ACTEW Chief Executive Paul Perkins said this morning that Canberran's response to Chief Minister Jon Stanhope's introduction of voluntary water restrictions has met initial expectations with water consumption for the 24 hours to 8.00am this morning well down on the previous Saturday, but that the situation will be monitored closely over coming days.

Chief Minister Jon Stanhope announced voluntary water restrictions from midnight Friday 16 November, which included:
§ only use sprinkler systems on alternate days and not between 7.00am and 7.00pm;
§ refrain from using water to clean paved areas and windows;
§ wash cars with a bucket or a trigger hose.

Meanwhile, in response to numerous enquiries Mr Perkins said, "We need to remind residents that today, Sunday, is an odd day so only householders whose address ends in odd numbers should be watering gardens and lawns from 7.00pm this evening."

17 November 2002



For further information:
Mr Paul Perkins
CEO ACTEW Corporation
Phone: 0414 514 400

Attachment: copy of the ACT Government voluntary water restrictions




VOLUNTARY WATER RESTRICTIONS FOR THE ACT,
EFFECTIVE 16 NOVEMBER 2002

For information visit www.act.gov.au

Notes:
1. This scheme applies to water drawn from ACTEW Corporation's potable water supply system only.
2. The "odds and evens" system means that, if your street number ends in an odd number (i.e. 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9), you can only water on days when the date also ends in an odd number. Similarly, if your street number ends in an even number (i.e. 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8) then you can only water on days when the date also ends in an even number - except for 31st day of any month (bonus day).
3. "Private" includes residential, business and institutions.
4. "Public" includes government, or privately operated for public use
5. Where customers can demonstrate serious detriment from application of restrictions, application can be made for a permit for exemption or partial exemption. All applications will be considered by ACTEW, and will need to be in writing. Written approval is required before the exemption is considered to be granted.

TARGET REDUCTION: 15%
Private Gardens and Lawns Sprinkler systems should only be used from midnight to 7am and 7pm to midnight on alternate days, following the "odds and evens" system - if you have an odd house number water on odd dates, if you have an even house number water on even dates.Hand-held hoses can be used at any time.
Private Ponds and Garden Fountains Fountains should be switched off unless they use recycled water.Existing ponds may be topped up using a hand-held hose or bucket.
Parks, Sports Fields, Golf Courses, and Public Gardens The target of a 15% reduction in water use should be met.Hand-held hoses can be used at any time.
Paved Areas Water should not be used to clean paved areas unless cleaning is required as a result of an accident, fire, health hazard or other emergency.
Public Swimming Pools Existing pools should not be either emptied or refilled without written approval, but may be topped up.Empty pools should not be filled without contacting ActewAGL.
Private Swimming Pools and External Spas Existing pools should not be either emptied or refilled without written approval from ActewAGL. People are encouraged to keep their pool covered when not in use.Pools may be topped up with a hand-held hose.Empty pools should not be filled without contacting ActewAGL.
Public Ponds and Fountains Fountains that do not recycle water should not be operated or topped up.Ponds and fountains previously used that do recycle water may be operated but should not topped up.
Motor Vehicle Washing Washing should be done with a bucket filled directly from a tap. A trigger hose may be used to rinse the vehicle after it has been washed.
Window and Building Washing Washing should be done with a bucket directly filled from a tap.
Construction Activities Unless impractical, water should not be used unless by means of a trigger hose.Wherever possible non-potable water should be used.
ACT GOVERNMENT TIPS FOR SAVING WATER

In the Garden

Planning and commonsense
Householders use most of their garden water on lawns. But even in the hottest weather a well-managed lawn only needs 20mm of water a week and only half that in winter. Adding attractive paved areas and wide paths, instead of lawn, will add interest and reduce water use.
· To help water seep down to tree roots plant 10 to 15cm lengths of perforated agricultural pipe around the root zone and spaced about one metre apart with the lip slightly above ground level. Fill the pipes with water once a week in hot weather.
· In summer water your garden less often, but more deeply. A good soak once a week is more useful than a surface sprinkling once a day.
· Cyclic watering helps reduce runoff. So for more efficient watering cycle between 15 minutes watering and two hours break, in the morning and evening. Make sure you keep an eye on the volume of water you are using, any runoff and the wetness of the soil. Using a tap timer can help.
· Use water-saving products like Saturaid, water-storing granules and mulch around your plants.
· Install a good drip-irrigation system under a thick layer, at least 75mm, of mulch, so water doesn't have to penetrate mulch and be lost to evaporation.
· Turn your irrigation system off during or after rain.
· Water garden beds separately - they don't need as much water as lawns.
· Water the base of plants and shrubs, not the leaves.
· Use a sprinkler system with micro sprays for vegetables, shrubs and annuals.
· Do not use the hose to wash down paths and driveways. A hose can use 1000 litres of water an hour. Remember to turn the tap off when you have finished.
· Save water when washing your car. Do it less frequently, limit the use of your hose - use a bucket of soapy water instead - and wash your car on the lawn.
· When using a sprinkler try not to water paved areas.

ACT GOVERNMENT TIPS FOR SAVING WATER
In the Home

Check for leaks
A leaking tap can waste 120 litres of water a day. To check the toilet, add a little biodegradable food dye to the toilet tank. If the dye runs into the bowl (without pressing the flush button) the cistern needs repairing. And check for leaking pipes by reading your meter last thing at night, then compare with the reading first thing in the morning.
To stop leaking taps, check and replace:
· worn or broken washers and worn or broken "˜O' rings (on the tap spindle).
· damage to the washer "˜seat' (inside the tap body)
In the bathroom
· Take shorter showers.
· Install reduced-flow shower roses.
· Fit a clock or timer in the bathroom.
· Don't leave the water running when brushing your teeth or shaving.
· Use recycled bath, shower and laundry wastewater in the garden, but not on edible plants or vegetables.
In the kitchen
· Do not rinse dishes under a running tap. Instead, partially fill a sink or bowl with rinsing water.
· Do not peel or clean vegetables under running water.
· A dishwasher is more economical than hand washing only if used properly. Use it once a day or when full. A dishwasher will use about 50 litres of water a cycle.
· Keeping a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator stops the need to run the cold tap until the water is cool enough.
In the laundry
· Make sure the washing machine is fully loaded and adjust the water level to match the load.
· If you are buying a new machine use the water-use labelling scheme to guide your choice. The more shaded "˜A's the greater the efficiency.
· Front-loading machines use less water than top-loading machines.
· If your machine has a suds-saver option, use it when washing more than one load.