22 February, 2013
Cuts to water saving programs shortsighted: Residential water use in Sydney second highest in Australia
With the second highest water consumption per household in Australia, Sydney can ill afford to abandon investment in water efficiency programs, according to the Nature Conservation Council of NSW.
Sydney Water’s spending on efficiency programs has reportedly fallen from $30.5 million five years ago to $1.5 million last financial year.
“These dramatic cuts in water efficiency programs are shortsighted,” said Pepe Clarke, NCC Chief Executive Officer.
“Water efficiency programs have driven substantial reductions in per capita water consumption, but Sydney’s residential water consumption still remains high when compared with other capital cities in Australia.”
In its most recent national performance report, the National Water Commission compared metropolitan water utilities and found that Sydney Water customers were the second highest users of water, per household, in the country.
“Sydney Water must work harder to match the achievements of water utilities in other capital cities like Brisbane, where residential water use per household is 30 per cent lower than in Sydney,” Mr Clarke said.
“We cannot afford to be complacent about water efficiency. In Melbourne, where the State Government recently eased water restrictions, weekly residential water use over the summer has surged to levels not seen since 2009.
“It’s extremely disappointing to see water-saving programs for Sydney residents slashed as a cost-saving measure, particularly given the sharp increase in Sydney Water’s profits over the past year.”
Last financial year, Sydney Water’s profit after tax was $367 million, $93 million higher than the previous year.
Water-saving programs scrapped over the past two years include the Every Drop Counts program in schools, the rainwater tank rebate and water-saving kits.
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