Here comes the rain
By the end of February, NSW’s dam levels had returned to around 67% of capacity – the sort of percentage many of us thought had gone the way of the dodo. And yet, the Level 3 water restrictions were still not lifted, and gardens remained thirsty, cars stayed dirty and paths stayed unhosed.
The overwhelming feeling seemed to be that a summer, or even a year of heavy rains is just going to be a brief reprieve. While Sydney might be whetted, much of NSW and Australia is still in drought. The long-term effects of climate change are still being figured out, but the NSW government’s Water for Life website predicts that we’re going to keep experiencing higher temperatures, changed rainfall patterns, increased evaporation and longer, more intense droughts.
Plus, water is going to cost a lot more in the future. According to Ross Young, the Chief Executive of Water Services Australia, “Water prices are generally going to double in Australia over the next five to 10 years as the industry funds the significant capital works programs - some $30 billion over the next five to 10 years just in new water sources for urban Australia.”
New home buyers in NSW also don’t have a choice to enlist in the water saving army – they’re being conscripted. BASIX legislation demands that each new home built in NSW uses 40% less potable water than the average NSW home.
There are two different ways that new home buyers can help protect NSW’s water resources, save themselves money on long-term water bills and comply with BASIX. The first is by using water from alternative sources – that is, water other than the potable, or drinking-grade water from our dams. The second is about carefully designing their new homes and gardens, and installing inclusions that will mean their household can run as normal using far less water.
