Media Release

04 Jul 2008

Illawarra businesses to rinse smart and save

From July, cafes, restaurants, takeaway food stores, pubs and clubs in the Illawarra will be able to use water more efficiently through a free program offered by Sydney Water.

Sydney Water will install new water efficient pre-rinse spray valves – known as Smart Rinse – in food service businesses in the Wollongong, Kiama and Shellharbour local government areas.

Pre-rinse spray valves are used to remove food scraps and grease from dishes before they go into the dishwasher. Traditional models typically use between 10 and 15 litres a minute.

The new Smart Rinse spray valves use around 40 per cent less water and also clean better.

Smart Rinse spray valves have the highest water efficiency rating of 6-stars under the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) Scheme.

From July, eligible businesses in the Illawarra can have Smart Rinse spray valves installed by a qualified plumber for free – saving about $300 on each valve.

Pre-rinse spray valves generally use hot water, so by reducing their water use, businesses can also cut energy costs.

Each pre-rinse spray valve can save businesses an average of $456 in water and energy costs each year.

TAFE NSW – Illawarra Institute’s Wollongong Campus was one of the first organisations in the Illawarra to install the new Smart Rinse valves. They now have them in their two commercial kitchens and in the Function Centre.

Illawarra Institute’s Environmental Officer Darren O’Connell said that both staff and students were impressed by the new valves.

“The valves use less water and are so powerful and efficient that it now takes less time to clean the dishes,” Mr O’Connell said.

Sydney Water started installing Smart Rinse valves in suburbs with densely populated restaurant precincts in April this year.

About 1,000 hospitality businesses in the Fairfield, Parramatta, City of Sydney, Manly, North Sydney and Marrickville local government areas have already installed the valves.

So far these valves are saving 253 million litres of drinking water a year.

Sydney Water will supply and install up to three Smart Rinse valves in commercial kitchens using less than 100,000 litres of water a day for free.

Sydney Water will spend $2.9 million installing 3,250 Smart Rinse valves in Greater Sydney over the next three years.

For more information about Smart Rinse or to book a free installation, call 1800 622 695.

Learn how you can join the every drop counts (EDC) Business Program.

 

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