Rethink: Water Use and Misuse in Northern Australia Mark Wiltshire
Oct 2011
OVERVIEW Is there a case for WATER EFFICIENCY in Darwin? Can we change our WATER HABITS?
Some CONTEXT…
Drought to Deluge Darwin Water Storage Historic Water Levels and Operating Bandwidth - Darwin River Dam 46
new full supply level (45.7 m AHD)
45 pre-2010 full supply level (44.4 mAHD) 44
43
42
41 minimum operating level (40 m AHD)
40
19 78 19 79 19 80 19 81 19 82 19 83 19 84 19 85 19 86 19 87 19 88 19 89 19 90 19 91 19 92 19 93 19 94 19 95 19 96 19 97 19 98 19 99 20 00 20 01 20 02 20 03 20 04 20 05 20 06 20 07 20 08 20 09 20 10 20 11
39
start of year
Jan Mar May July Sep Nov Jan Mar May July Sep Nov Jan Mar May July Sep Nov Jan Mar May July Sep Nov Jan Mar May July Sep
01/05/2006
01/03/2006
01/01/2006
2006
01/05/2007
01/03/2007
01/01/2007
01/11/2006
01/09/2006
01/07/2006
2007
01/05/2008
01/03/2008
01/01/2008
01/11/2007
01/09/2007
01/07/2007
2008
01/07/2009
01/05/2009
01/03/2009
01/01/2009
01/11/2008
01/09/2008
01/07/2008
2009
01/05/2010
01/03/2010
01/01/2010
01/11/2009
01/09/2009
2010
01/09/2010
01/07/2010
Water Supply (KL)
Drought to Deluge Darwin Water Supply Darwin Daily Water Production
180,000
160,000
140,000
120,000
100,000
80,000
60,000
40,000
20,000
0
Drought to Deluge Darwin Water Supply
Future Darwin Water Supplies Supply Capacity
Augmentation Dates
2017
2012
DRD - FSL Raising MD - Return to Service
2001
50000
2010
HEB - Stage 1
100000
Historical Demand
Industrial Step Demands Climate Change Impact on Demand: .128% Avg. P.A. until 2030 Climate Change Impact on Supply: 6.7% Total by 2030
Year
2029
2019
2009
1999
1989
0 1979
Consumption (ML/annum)
Demand Projection Based On Hybrid 2 - NTG Variable Migration / ABS Series B - 1.64 %
Next Major Water Source
Business as usual
Darwin Water Users
2008-09 Consumption KL Residential
%
20,168,834
54%
Commercial
9,858,915
26%
Government
6,471,338
17%
PowerWater
1,004,986
3%
TOTAL:
37,504,073
100%
Household Water Use in Darwin By Household;
Seasonal Water Use in Darwin Darwin Daily Water Production 2009 180,000 160,000
120,000 100,000 80,000 60,000
541 L/p/d
40,000 20,000 0 01 /0 1/ 09 01 /0 2/ 09 01 /0 3/ 09 01 /0 4/ 09 01 /0 5/ 09 01 /0 6/ 09 01 /0 7/ 09 01 /0 8/ 09 01 /0 9/ 09 01 /1 0/ 09 01 /1 1/ 09 01 /1 2/ 09
Water Supply (KL)
140,000
167 L/p/d
How do we Compare?
75%
50%
Is there a case for WATER EFFICIENCY in Darwin? Are our water habits CLIMATE or CULTURE related?
The case for Water Efficiency DRIVERS: • • • •
Population Growth. Climate variability. Cost of delivery. Territory 2030 Plan.
The case for Water Efficiency BENEFITS: • • • •
Saving on water bills. Deferring new water sources. Climate resilience. Opportunity to make our own water saving decisions.
Deferring Future Water Sources What effect could water efficiency have?
Year
Next Major Water Source
MD - Return to Service
2029
2019
2024
2016 2017
2012
DRD - FSL Raising
2009
1999
0
1989
2001
50000
2010
HEB - Stage 1
100000
1979
Consumption (ML/annum)
T2030 targets Industrial Step Demands Climate Change Impact on Demand: .128% Avg. P.A. until 2030 Climate Change Impact on Supply: 6.7% Total by 2030
Deferring Future Water Sources What effect could water efficiency have?
Year
MD - Return to Service
2029
2019
2024
2016 2017
2012
DRD - FSL Raising
2009
1999
0
1989
2001
50000
2010
HEB - Stage 1
100000
1979
Consumption (ML/annum)
Above T2030 targets Industrial Step Demands Climate Change Impact on Demand: .128% Avg. P.A. until 2030 Climate Change Impact on Supply: 6.7% Total by 2030
Can we be More Water Efficient?
2008-09 Consumption KL Residential
%
20,168,834
54%
Commercial
9,858,915
26%
Government
6,471,338
17%
PowerWater
1,004,986
3%
TOTAL:
37,504,073
100%
How do Households Compare?
Our Garden Water Habits 2009 Darwin Water Consumption v's House Lot Size (<2000m2) 10000 9000
Consumption (kL/yr)
8000 7000 6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000
Darwin Av. 422kL/yr 0 0
500
1000
1500
Housing Land Size (m2)
2000
2500
Opportunities for Better Water Efficient Habits • Greatest savings in residential water use • Better Water Habits; – – – – – – –
More water efficient GARDENS More water efficient IRRIGATION More water efficient POOLS More water efficient APPLIANCES More water efficient CONSTRUCTION More water efficient INFRASTRUCTURE Alternative household WATER SOURCES
More Water Efficient Habits EFFICIENT GARDENS • • • •
GARDEN DESIGN No mulch – POOR Rock gardens – GOOD Grassed areas – POOR (without purpose) • Over irrigation/ no maintenance – POOR & unsafe
More Water Efficient Habits EFFICIENT IRRIGATION • • • •
Timers Leaks Seasonal variation DRIPPERS
Current Design
– CitiWater (Townsville) Efficient Design
More Water Efficient Habits EFFICIENT POOLS • Pool covers; – Lower evaporation – Lower backwashing – Visible water savings to consumers.
More Water Efficient Habits EFFICIENT APPLIANCES • Big water saving initiative • Efficient water savings
More Water Efficient Habits EFFICIENT CONSTRUCTION â&#x20AC;˘ More water efficient construction
More Water Efficient Habits EFFICIENT INFRASTRUCTURE â&#x20AC;˘ More water efficient infrastructure
More Water Efficient Habits ALTERNATIVE WATER SOURCES Rainwater tank MYTH BUSTERS; • Not effective without rain – That’s not a show stopper! – Depends on tank water use.
• Large storage required to make significant savings – Size does not always matter! – A Darwin household can use more tank water than Sydney household with a 2-3kL tank.
More Water Efficient Habits ALTERNATIVE WATER SOURCES Rainwater Tank BENEFITS; • Best connected to toilet, laundry and possibly hot water. • 13% of Australian households have rainwater tanks. • <1% of Darwin households have rainwater tanks. • A 2kL Darwin household rainwater tank could save 40 kL per person per year or 10% household water use.
More Water Efficient Habits ALTERNATIVE WATER SOURCES Other RECYCLING alternatives; • Recycling wastewater makes [water saving] sense for the Top End. • Need a regulatory framework. • Will it change our habits?
Are our water habits CLIMATE or CULTURE related?
Climate or CULTURE The Darwin Water Story (2007, n=610); • • • • • •
People want to irrigate more efficiently Water use should be monitored Water is taken for granted Rainwater tanks preferred alternative water source Water conservation is critical Restrictions not required
CLIMATE or Culture? Climate predicts water use; Jonathon Louey-Gung, PWC, 2011
The Cairns Experience • Demand Management Strategy in 2006 – Reduce per capita water use by 10%
• Market Research (n~160) 2006 & 2007 – Water is an important issue – Most people undertaking water conservation – Most people not aware of the water story
• Cairns Regional Council Water Demand Management Strategy 2009-2012 • Our Sustainable Water (2010-2011)
Cairns Regional Water Demand Management Strategy 2009-2012 • Population growth, climate change pressures • Justifying new water source • QLD Development Code • Water Supply (Safety and Reliability) Act 2008
The Cairns Experience How are they going? HOW DID THEY DO IT? • 65-70% Leak detection - 40% on-lot
• 15% Education and information campaign. • 15-20% Rebates/ retrofits
The Bigger Picture Water Conservation/ Water Efficiency
System Management
Cairns Regional Water Demand Management Strategy 2009-2012
SUMMARY YES there a case for WATER EFFICIENCY in the Top End. YES there is scope to improve our WATER HABITS.