Katherine’s citizens could be the biggest water users in Australia.
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According to data supplied by NT’s Power and Water and the Bureau of Meteorology, Katherine’s daily water usage is mammoth.
The average Australian uses 226 litres of water a day.
In Katherine we use on average 529 litres per person per day.
A large part of the high water use is our climate.
We are just weeks away from the start of the build-up season with extreme weather soon to arrive, featuring plus 38 degree days, for weeks and months at a time.
Evaporation can be 10mm a day.
Emergency water restrictions will begin in Katherine in less than a week.
Health Minister Natasha Fyles last week said water restrictions are being introduced as “an additional precautionary measure” to “help ensure the levels o PFAS stay within the Health Based Guidance Values”.
Restrictions
- Odd numbered properties are permitted to irrigate Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from 6pm – 8am
- Even numbered properties are permitted to irrigate Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday from 6pm – 8am
- No watering of hard surfaces
- Hand held watering via a bucket or watering can is permitted at any time.
Power and Water said Katherine people are the biggest water wasters in the Territory.
“Katherine uses 529 litres of water per person per day, almost double the national average which is 226 litres per person per day,” a Power and Water spokeswoman said.
A large green wheelie bin contains 240 litres of water, so Katherine residents use more than two bins full of water apiece each day.
The spokeswoman said Power and Water will hunt out leaks across business, homes and government areas in Katherine with the aim to save 200 million litres of water – equivalent to 830,000 wheelie bins.
Living Water Smart Program manager Jacqui O’Neill said she is enthusiastic about the effective leak fixing initiative being extended from Darwin to Katherine.
“Leaks are often sneaky and hidden, wasting thousands of litres per year without the home or business owner knowing it,” Ms O’Neill said.
“Katherine’s water use is over twice the national average and Living Water Smart has found that leaks are a major cause.
“Around one in five Katherine homes will have a leak wasting an average of 500 000 litres or over $1000 per year. That’s equivalent to each home filling 2083 wheelie bins with water down the drain.”
Living Water Smart’s Community Leak Program can help the Katherine community with these measures and involves two components:
- Identifying leaks – Leak Checkers will conduct quick leak checks at household and most business water meters (20-25mm meter size). Owners and renters will be notified whether or not there may have a leak via a card left in the letterbox or at the business.
- Finding and Fixing Leaks – If a potential leak is detected, the leaks card will explain how to take advantage of a new $200 Leak Find and Fix rebate to help confirm or fix a leak, using local plumbers registered with Living Water Smart.
Local plumbers are being invited to become registered suppliers with Power and Water’s Living Water Smart initiative and help deliver services for the $200 Leak Find and Fix rebate.
“With all of us working together by using simple and smarter water saving measures, we can conserve Katherine’s water supply,” Ms O’Neill said.
