United Nation’s International Water Day in 22 March, and with heavy rainfall the last few weeks across Shoalhaven and the Illawarra, water has been on everyone’s mind.
Local dams are overflowing and Shoalhaven Water Operations Manager Andrew McVey said he trusts the locals will be smart about their water usage,
’’Although you believe it’s very wet at this stage, it shouldn’t be a reason for people to waste,” he said.
With sustainable and smart use of water, the dams of Shoalhaven contain enough water to provide for homes for about three months.
Mr McVey said there has been a noticeable decrease in water usage over the past 10 years, particularly hot water,
‘’Modern tap-ware such as shower heads and toilets also play a role, people are saving water to save money.’’ Mr McVey said.
Today people pay about $1.70 per kilolitre of water.
Overall, the rate in which Shoalhaven is using its water is sustainable, with less than 10 per cent leak rate, which is lower than the national average.
Making sure your taps are leak-free could save you 20,000 litres of water each year.
The United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal 6 is said to ensure a sustainable management and sanitation for all by 2030. This year’s Water Day puts extra pressure on the global public to safely collect wastewater so it is reusable. Over 80 per cent of wastewater flows back into our ecosystem without being rinsed first, which results in 1.8 million people uses a drink water source infested with faeces, unsafe water is the cause of 842,000 deaths every year.