Sustaining Gardens with Alternative Water Sources New WA guidelines help navigate the way
Article by Melissa McGrath, Urban and Social Sustainability Consultant, Josh Byrne & Associates
Photo: Community bores support urban greening (image courtesy JBA)
Utilising alternative water supplies for landscape irrigation can supplement Perth’s Integrated Water Supply Scheme (IWSS) and help secure Perth’s water future. Adopting this fit-forpurpose approach can help accommodate Perth’s growing population and our preference for greener, cooler neighbourhoods, despite our drying climate. Yet identifying the most appropriate source and approach can still prove a challenge, with many unsure how to weigh up the pros and cons, then navigate and address the numerous site-specific planning, operational and governance requirements. Recognising the need for greater direction in the uptake and implementation of fit-for-purpose alternative water supply systems, Josh Byrne & Associates (JBA), with support from the Water Corporation and various other stakeholders, has developed guides that focus on two areas of fit-for-purpose domestic water supply – community garden bores and recycled greywater. The Community Bore Guide provides information on implementing well managed community bore schemes, in areas suitable for a bore, for new residential developments in Western Australia. The West Australian Greywater Guide, developed in conjunction with the Greywater and Wastewater Industry Group (GWIG), provides a source of practical information on how to best reuse domestic greywater. Responding to Climate Change The south-west of Australia is experiencing a drying trend due to climate change, with reduced rainfall since the mid-1970s
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The Overflow - Summer 2020
significantly impacting on the runoff into Perth’s dams. Water solutions for Perth have included an increased use of groundwater and reliance on sea water desalination. Locally relevant and fit-for-purpose integrated urban water systems can support Perth’s existing water supply scheme and provide long term water supply solutions at a variety of scales including rainwater harvesting, stormwater reuse, as well as greywater and wastewater reuse. Uptake of these alternative sources can help to alleviate pressure on the IWSS, ensure groundwater dependent wetlands and ecosystems are protected, and connect people to the local water cycle. Delivering the Waterwise Perth Action Plan At the same time as responding to a drying climate, Perth is also facing the challenge of meeting the needs of a growing population wanting to reside in a green, liveable city. To address these challenges, the McGowan Government and Water Minister Dave Kelly has led the development of the Waterwise Perth Action Plan aiming to transform Perth into a leading waterwise city by 2030. The Action Plan, released in October 2019, has been developed with knowledge and insights provided by over 200 stakeholders and seeks to take the next steps from saving water to improving how we manage water in our urban environments. Actions are divided across different scales for delivery and a collaborative approach has been highlighted as essential to achieving the Action Plan, with everyone in the community expected to have a role, including State Government, councils, industry, individual businesses and households.
