Case Studies

Residential Conservation Programs

City West Water’s Consumers to Conservers strategy is designed to educate and encourage our residential customers to use water efficiently, and help us achieve the government target of a 15% reduction in water consumption per person by 2010. In 2005–06, we undertook programs including the Community Showerhead Exchange and the Fitzroy North Water Saver program.

Fitzroy North Water Savers

Residents in Fitzroy North are taking part in a unique behavioural change program that is creating a wave of water savings.

In October 2005, City West Water began the Fitzroy North Water Saver behavioural change program. The 12-month program aims to reduce 1,000 households water consumption, in the Fitzroy North area by 15%, by designing individual water conservation initiatives to suit their needs.

The residents choose a water saving target and obtain monthly progress reports to see how they are tracking. The program involves one-on-one contact with the resident via regular telephone calls, home visits and plumber audits.

During January 2006, households were offered a free visit from a plumbing specialist and 249 households took up the offer to receive a one hour visit and an assessment report outlining water saving measures.

Initial results from the program are still being determined. 

 

 

Showerhead exchange program

Changing your showerhead is just one of the many easy ways you can make a big difference to water conservation.

Over the last two years, City West Water has held the Community Showerhead Exchange involving customers exchanging their inefficient showerhead for a AAA water efficient version. Nearly 3,500 customers have participated, each with the potential to save more than 13,000 litres of water per year.

When customers swap their showerhead we track their water-use to determine the success of the exchange. The 2,500 customers that swapped their showerheads last year have so far saved enough water to fill about 10 Olympic-sized swimming pools. The number of customers who exchanged their showerheads this year was 768. 
 
The old showerheads are recycled into scrap metal and proceeds donated to local charities.

Pictured: Customers at the community showerhead exchange.

 

 

Leak Detection

City West Water achieves exceptional water savings by using specialised equipment to inspect water mains and pipes for underground leaks.

Since City West Water began its leak detection program in 2004, we have inspected approximately 2,900 kilometres of our water supply network. The program involves using the latest acoustic equipment to locate water leaks that cannot be seen from the surface.

Once leaks have been identified, we send out a crew to repair leaks in our network or inform our customers if the leak is on their side of the water meter so they can organise repairs.

An additional benefit of the program is that leak detection personnel report on hydrants and valves that require maintenance.

It is estimated that City West Water has saved approximately 2,300 million litres of water as a result of the program.

 

Business Conservation Programs

We have a number of programs that are assisting customers to reduce their water consumption. These programs also support the government’s water conservation target of 15% by 2010.

Water conservation solutions program

City West Water’s Water Conservation Solutions Program is a new initiative that seeks to improve water efficiency amongst our major water using commercial and institutional customers.

We work with customers that fall into the top 200 water users group, to help them identify opportunities to improve water efficiency in order to meet the Victoria Government’s target of 15% per capita reduction in drinking water consumption by 2010.

The program includes education and training, funding assistance, support material, access to skilled and knowledgeable service provider and ongoing support and assistance from our specialised teams.

 

 

 

Water Management Plans

Since the Water Management Plan program, aimed at Melbourne’s top 200 water users, was launched in October 2003, commercial customers have worked with us to develop Water Management Plans and identify ways to cut their water use and improve their triple-bottom-line performance.

Of the top 200 industrial/commercial water users in metropolitan Melbourne, 104 are located in City West Water’s service area. 74 of our industrial customers, including 68 from our top 104, have Trade Waste Resource Management plans (Resource Management plans) which include opportunities to conserve water and to reduce salt and other pollutants discharged to our sewers. The remaining 36 of the top 104 customers will complete either Resource Management or Water Management Plans in 2006-07 (note: five customers have closed).

Programs such as these have contributed to significant water savings. Over the past four years, City West Water’s total non-residential customers have reduced their water use by 9.5%, or 4,900 million litres per year.

 

Community support program

City West Water’s Community Support Program supports water-saving initiatives in the community. 

The Community Support Program is a grants scheme running since 2002. It aims to fund projects for community groups and schools that have a practical water conservation focus in the local community.

Successful projects have included providing water-wise products for the Vietnamese Community Water Conservation program, rainwater tanks for a number of kindergartens and a water-wise garden for the Caroline Springs Fire Brigade. Projects are funded to a maximum of $5,000 (excluding GST).

 

Sustainable management programs

City West Water has contributed over $115,000 and significant in-kind support to the Sustainable Business Management Program which assists small businesses to save water.

In 2005 City West Water successfully completed the Green Streets program in Rose Street, Essendon, and the Sustainable Sunshine program in Hampshire Road, Sunshine.

During August 2005, the Minister for Water announced almost $1 million of funding for Vic 1000, a Sustainable Business Management Program for 1000 small businesses across Melbourne and regional Victoria based on these programs.

The program is designed to empower small businesses to reduce their environmental impact and operating costs while involving the community in creating a sustainable culture.

 

Water Conservation in our Business

In addition to our water conservation programs aimed specifically at customers, City West Water also works to identify areas within our own business where we can be more sustainable. In particular, we have commenced a new program called Sustainable Staff which encourages employees to improve their environmental, social and economic impacts. Click here for more information on Sustainable Staff.

 

Industry-wide Conservation Programs

City West Water participates in a number of industry-wide programs as part of the Melbourne water industry’s Joint Water Conservation Plan. The Joint Water Conservation Plan provides a coordinated approach to water conservation planning for Melbourne.

It was set-up to achieve government targets of a 15% reduction in average water use by 2010. These targets were introduced following the 2002 release of the report 21st Century Melbourne: a Water Smart City, which outlined the recommended strategy for the sustainable management of Melbourne’s water resources.

The Central Region Sustainable Water Strategy increases this government target to 30% water reductions by 2020. More information on this strategy can be viewed here.

Drought Response Plan

The Drought Response Plan, a requirement of the Water Industry Act 1994, provides an industry-wide framework for managing drought in metropolitan Melbourne through the application of water restrictions. City West Water is involved with the metropolitan Drought Response Committee that is made up of representatives from the three metropolitan water retailers along with Western Water, Melbourne Water and the Department of Sustainability and Environment.

This year, the Drought Response Committee was involved in the development and consultation of a new Drought Response Plan for Melbourne.  City West Water project managed market research which sought to assess the impact of recent restrictions.  This information was used in formulating the new plan.

Our Water Our Future

City West Water, along with South East Water, Yarra Valley Water and Melbourne Water, contributes funding and advice to the Victorian Government’s Our Water Our Future program. This program implements a number of initiatives, including advertising, competitions and education programs designed to encourage better water conservation behaviour.

savewater!®

We are also part of the savewater!® Alliance, which is made up of industry representatives and supported by government departments, associations and other interest groups. It encourages water conservation through a range of activities including awards, competitions and the savewater!® website, which contains information on water-saving products and tips on how to save water. For more information visit www.savewater.com.au

Rebates

The Victorian Government’s Water Smart Gardens and Homes Rebate Scheme has committed $10 million over four years to fund water-saving measures, including rebates to customers who buy and install ‘water smart’ products. Customers can claim rebates on a range of products, such as AAA water-efficient shower roses, rainwater tanks, dual-flush toilets and greywater systems. City West Water administers rebates for customers in our service area.

Smart Water Fund

The Smart Water Fund was established in 2002 as part of a commitment by the water industry and the Victorian Government to encourage individuals, community groups and businesses to develop ideas that will make a difference to the way we use our water resources. In particular, the fund encourages innovative approaches to water and biosolids recycling and increasing water saving for future urban and environmental needs. For more information visit www.smartwater.com.au