Australia teaches us to save water

Simon Robertson, regional distribution manager for South East Water, has spent five months in Australia learning how the country copes with chronic water shortages.

He will use that knowledge to help South East Water react to climate change and increasing demand.

During last weekend's heatwave, the firm's customers in East and Mid Sussex and West Kent used up to 20 per cent more water than usual.

Mr Robertson has just returned from working for a state-owned water company in Melbourne, a region entering its eighth year of drought conditions.

In Melbourne, meters are compulsory in all homes and residents are subject to permanent water restrictions to help secure the city's water supply.

These include having set times for watering gardens, asking people to use trigger nozzles on hoses and banning people from hosing down driveways.

Those who break the rules are given heavy fines.

Mr Robertson said: "The visit gave me a fascinating insight into how another water company and its customers work in partnership to manage its limited water resources during a drought and I was very impressed with what I saw.

"Saving water is part of everyday life for Melbourne residents - stop anyone in the street and they will know the reservoir levels because that information is always in their newspapers and on the local TV weather reports.

"Schoolchildren are educated from an early age too about how to save water, such as turning off the tap when they clean their teeth."

The South East has had six consecutive months of below average rainfall and one of the driest winters since records began in 1892.

Levels in underground sources, reservoirs and rivers have already dropped.

South East Water is advising customers to reduce water consumption especialy in the garden by not using sprinklers and hosepipies, if restrictions are to be avoided in the coming weeks.

For advice visit www.southeastwater.co.uk
June 25, 2005