Major capital investment in seawater desalination and recycled water in response to the Millennium drought (which ravaged parks, sporting ovals and gardens) caused a steep increase in water prices just when water efficiency efforts really stepped up. With the drought now broken in eastern Australia, and water consumption at low levels, customers are now “using less but paying more” as utilities strive to recover large capital costs. This makes continuing water efficiency efforts problematic. However, this paper articulates why this is just a short-term problem and that a long-term strategy for maintaining investment in water efficiency is important to create and maintain liveable communities no matter what the weather.
Making the case for long term investment in water efficiency
This involves putting customers’ front and centre, along with a greater focus on the energy-water nexus, adaptive planning in response to climate risk, good regulation, technological and social/behavioural innovation, and education and communication. As Australia’s population grows, and the economy and climate fall prey to ‘shocks,’ part of the way forward must be to build water efficiency into the long-term water security equation.
Cilla de Lacy, Manager Liveable Communities, Water Services Association of Australia presented this paper at the 6th Making Cities Liveable Conference, in conjunction with the Sustainable Transformation Conference in Melbourne. The joint conference was an initiative of the Association.
You can download the full paper here.
Keywords: water efficiency, drought, customers, energy, regulation
