Urban Water
Demand management
Appropriate water conservation and demand management are essential for ensuring efficient use of our valuable water resources. Water conservation is also a requirement of the Water Management Act 2000, is part of the Water Initiative and is a requirement of the Best-Practice Management Guidelines.
The Department of Water and Energy strongly encourages all local water utilities to prepare a cost-effective water conservation and demand management strategy as part of their strategic planning process. This involves understanding the nature of the demand and implementing appropriate measures to reduce demand and minimise wastage including active intervention (eg. rebates for water efficient appliances), water pricing reform, community education and leakage reduction programs.
The implementation of a cost-effective demand management program will deliver significant environmental and social benefits and will assist in providing a sustainable water supply. It will also reduce operating costs and can have a major impact on the necessity for and timing of proposed capital works.