TIDY
TOWNS
TIPS
WATER CONSERVATION AWARD
The single most important element of sustainability in
Australia is water – without water there is no community.
This category assesses water management planning, local
government liaison, education and awareness programs
related to water, community involvement and developing
innovative methods of water harvesting, recycling and reuse.
With a 10 – 15 per cent decrease in rainfall since the mid
1970s there is an urgent need to become smarter in the way that we use and reuse our water.
Rivers, creeks, wetlands and groundwater are not only important to the people that live around
them, but are the basis of life itself for all plants and animals.
As for other category awards, try to get as many different people involved from the community
as you can, ensure you record a mixture of projects coordinated by several groups, and tell the
judges when they visit your town. For example, the local shire, business, industry, households,
community groups and schools may have water conservation projects that could easily be
incorporated into an entry.
PROJECT IDEAS
 Consider getting a waterwise specialist to help you save with qualified advice on
waterwise products and services. Visit the Water Corporation website to find a contact
near you.
 Work with your local government or the Water Corporation to see how you can put a
water conservation management plan together for conserving water in your community
and change behaviour.
 Gather waterwise information from Department of Water and Water Corporation
websites and promote these initiatives to your community.
 Promote water saving ideas and rebates on community notice and bulletin boards.
 Promote existing education programs to encourage individuals to use only 60Lwater
daily.
 Encourage any major plantings in your town to include native plants adapted to rainfall in
your area, so they don’t require additional watering.
 Practice mulching and subsoil reticulation.
 Try innovative ways to trial watering plants in areas where reticulation is not an option.
 Apply for a grant to fund a water conservation garden.
 Look at ways of decreasing the loss of water from tanks or dams through evaporation.
 Investigate water harvesting options such as storm water run-off, roof run-off or catchment
areas that can be used to collect water for gardens.
 Consider installing grey water treatment systems.
 Encourage use of grey water pipes from washing machines to water lawns, installation
of water saving showerheads and shower timers; slow flow taps or aerators; and other
water saving devices like Chilli Pepper pumps that recycle cold water.
 Run a short shower campaign. Encourage the community to take 3 minute showers,
register, calculate savings and watch the water savings you make as a community
 Find out if your school is participating in the in Waterwise Schools Program or
conducting a water audit.
 Encourage local businesses to have a Water Efficiency Management Plan (WEMP).
Templates are easy to download from the Water Corporation website.
 Encourage householders to do their own water audits of their homes by using the Water
Wise Calculator on the Water Corporations website.
JUDGE’S TIP
To demonstrate and monitor your outcomes, conduct water audits and record and measure the
litres of water you are saving, recycling or reusing. Keep a copy of all publicity, media coverage
and letters received in relation to your projects to show judges the progress you have made.
CASE STUDY
The State Winner of Water Conservation for 2014 was Merredin. You can read all about their
projects here (from page 14).
ONLINE RESOURCES
Both the Department of Water and Water Corporation websites provides useful resources
for communities including waterwise tips, fact sheets on waterwise garden designs,
rebates for water saving devices. .
Waterwise Council Program:
Target 60 campaign: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAC6D90A70503F84B
State Water Recycling Strategy (a useful tool when planning waterwise strategies for your
town).