Media Release

25 Oct 2006

Households heed water saving message

Households in Sydney, the Illawarra and Blue Mountains have cut their annual water consumption by an average of 63,000 litres a year since 2002-03.

Annual average household use had fallen in every local government area across the Sydney Water area.

The average single dwelling household consumption has fallen from 255,000 litres per year in 2003-04 to 237,000 litres in 2005-06 – a saving of 18,000 litres per year per household.

The average consumption was 300,000 litres per household in 2002-03 before water restrictions were introduced.

The successful demand management programs, as well as public education and awareness of the need to be water wise have been major factors in encouraging savings.

Measures such as rainwater tank rebates, washing machine rebates, water saving devices and other demand management initiatives have played a major part, saving about 9.3 billion litres per year.

LGA	2003-04 (litres)	2005-06 (litres)	SAVING (litres)
Kiama	188,000	170,000	18,000
Blue Mountains	197,000	174,000	23,000
Leichhardt	191,000	181,000	10,000
Wollongong	214,000	192,000	22,000
Sydney	211,000	195,000	16,000

Even the highest water-using areas have shown significant improvement.

LGA	2003-04 (litres)	2005-06 (litres)	SAVING (litres)
Woollahra	352,000	328,000	24,000
Hunters Hill	324,000	302,000	22,000
Mosman	317,000	299,000	18,000
Ku-ring-ga	313,000	290,000	23,000
Strathfield	292,000	286,000	6,000

These results compare favourably to statistics for these higher using areas before water restrictions were introduced in October 2003:

• Woollahra 409,000 litres
  
• Ku-ring-gai 402,000 litres
  
• Hunters Hill 401,000 litres
  
• Mosman 371,000 litres
  
• Strathfield 343,000 litres

Residents in Sydney, the Blue Mountains and the Illawarra have done an outstanding job during the current drought, saving more than 223 billion litres of water since 2003.

Water restrictions have helped educate people about the importance of saving water – a message that is obviously getting through.

In one of the worst droughts in NSW history it is important that everyone plays their part and Sydney Water thanks the community for their efforts.

 

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