Why protecting every drop is more important than ever

Here in Melbourne, we’re lucky enough to have some of the best water in the world – it needs minimal treatment because we have protected catchments. Our water is clean, safe to drink and always there when we turn the tap on. 

We might not think about it too often, but water is a big part of our lives and plays a key role in supporting our way of life every single day. From that morning coffee to an afternoon stroll in a leafy green park, playing our favourite sport on pristine cricket grounds and a nice hot shower to wash the day away, water is always there when we need it. 

In 2020, many of us changed the way we live, work and use water. This, combined with higher than average rainfall and a cooler summer meant that demand for water was lower this year. While this is great news our water supplies, we we’re still facing ongoing challenges like a warmer and drier climate and a growing city. 

Rainfall is also becoming more unreliable these days. And sometimes when it rains in urban areas, it doesn’t always make it to our reservoirs outside the city to top up our supplies. 

We all have a role to play

That’s why we all have a role to play in securing our water for the future. 

At South East Water, we’re always thinking of new ways to save water – from integrated water management projects which use water sources like recycled water and rainwater to reduce reliance on our precious drinking water, to undertaking digital meter trials with technology which will help us to keep track of every drop of water in our network so we can fix small leaks before they turn into bursts which waste water. 

Our customers can play a role in securing our water supplies too. Getting familiar with the permanent water saving rules, and targeting usage to 155 litres of water per person per day is a great place to start. 

Permanent water saving rules 

While we don’t have any water restrictions in place in Melbourne right now, the permanent water saving rules still apply to residential and commercial customers. 

Some of the rules include: 

• You can water residential or commercial gardens and lawns at any time, on any day using a hand held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle.
• You cannot water gardens and lawns using a watering system (manual, automatic, spray or dripper) between 10 am and 6 pm.
• You can use a high-pressure cleaning unit, or if such a unit is not available, a hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, or a bucket to remove stains from hard surfaces once a season (every three months). 
• You can wash windows with a bucket, high pressure cleaning unit or a hand held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle at any time.
• You can wash your car, boat or other vehicle at home using a high-pressure cleaning unit, a hand held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle or a bucket at any time.
• You can fill and operate a fountain or water feature as long as it recirculates the water. 

All of the permanent water saving rules are available on our website. 

But there’s more we can do. 

Find out how you can target 155 litres per person, per day with top water saving tips on makeeverydropcount.com.au