Water storages in good position despite a hot, dry summer
Coliban Water says the region’s water resources remain in a good position despite a 25% jump in summer water consumption and lower water storage levels compared with last year.
Executive Manager Corporate and Assurance at Coliban Water, Adam Crameri, said the dry conditions this summer had resulted in low inflows to the Upper Coliban, Lauriston and Malmsbury Reservoirs.
“91mm of rain fell at our Malmsbury Reservoir during the summer months, 33mm less than the long-term average.
“Low rainfall this past winter and spring, and dry ground in our catchments, has meant that just 531 megalitres flowed into our storages. That’s around one third of what we’d typically expect at this time of year,” Mr Crameri said.
“At the start of Autumn, our three reservoirs on the Coliban River were sitting at 61% capacity. At the same time last year, after a summer that was unusually wet, our storages were sitting at 86%.”
Despite a drier summer this year, Mr Crameri said Coliban Water’s good water resource position means customers would not see any water restrictions this year.
“We continue to invest in a range of operational and water efficiency initiatives that are improving the reliability of our networks and their resilience in the face of changing climate conditions and population growth.
“We also have a team of skilled water resource experts who manage our water holdings across our network to responsibly balance the region’s water supply and meet customer demand.
“But we are also calling on our customers to play their part in the responsible use of our precious water resources. That’s particularly important when the weather is dry,” he said.
“Our residential customers account for 70% of water consumption, so even simple measures to use water wisely around our homes can add up to a significant saving if we all do our bit.”
Mr Crameri added that Coliban Water is mindful that hot, dry weather means more customers are turning on the tap to keep gardens alive, stay cool, and refill swimming pools, rather than relying on consistent rainfall.
“Compared with last summer, water use in the Bendigo supply network increased by 25%, which we are aware will have a flow-on impact for some customers in the form of a higher summer water bill.
“Permanent water saving measures apply at all times and there are commonsense water saving tips on our website. These are easy to implement and designed to help all of us mange our water use, and save money, year-round.
“For those customers who have received a higher-than-expected bill, we encourage you to contact us directly if you need a hand managing your payments. Through the Coliban Assist program we can offer payment extensions, payment plans, and other strategies to help you manage your water bill.
“Customer may also be entitled to a range of concessions, grants, or other assistance.”
Customers can contact Coliban Water between 8am and 5pm Monday to Friday on 1300 363 200 or visit www.coliban.com.au
Simple home water saving tips:
Inside the home:
- Choose the half flush button and save up to 35,000 litres of water a year.
- Always run your washing machine with a full load and save ten litres per wash.
- Use a timer and keep showers to just four-minutes. You’ll save up to 35 litres.
- Turn the tap off while brushing your teeth.
- Consider replacing any old-style shower heads with a water efficient variety and save 11 litres of water per minute.
- A leaking or running toilet can waste up to 96,000 litres of water a year. To check if yours has a leak, remove the lid and place a few drops of food dye in the cistern. Don’t flush for 10-15 minutes. If the dye has seeped down into the bowl, you’ll know you have a leak.
Outside the home:
- To limit wastage and water loss through evaporation, use a leak-free hand-held hose with a trigger nozzle to water gardens and only use watering systems between 6pm and 10am.
- Remember to push aside mulch first to check if your plants do need water.
- Adapt your plant choices and garden over time to include more water wise plant choices.
- Don’t overestimate how much water your lawn needs. A proper drink less often will encourage deeper root growth and help it withstand heat stress.
- Only use fountains or water features that recirculate water.
- Only hose hard surfaces during construction, renovations or to remove a hazard (or once every three months if staining develops).
