The Queensland Government’s Home Water Wise Rebate Scheme now includes Cooloola Shire.

Cooloola Shire residents are now eligible for a comprehensive range of water-wise incentives including:

* $1000 For rainwater tanks, pumps and diverters and installation.

* Up to $200 to install an above ground greywater system, and $500 to purchase and install a below ground greywater system.

* $200 for a 4 star (or better) water efficient washing machine (one per household)

* $150 for dual flush toilet suit, including installation, which will replace existing single flush toilets (a maximum of 2 toilets per household)

* 50% of purchase price up to $30 for 3 star (or better) showerheads (a maximum of 3 per household)

* $200 for pool covers, including rollers (minimum size is 25 square metres).

Inquiries to the free Water Hotline 1800 243 585 or visiting www.qld.gov.au/water

Cooloola Council also has RAINWATER TANK SUBSIDIES for people connected to the town water supply. Please contact Council for subsidy scheme details on 5481 0844. 

Every Drop Counts…be water wise at work, home and play

CURRENT debate about the water crisis in South-East Queensland could throw up anobvious question to people considering supplementing their water with a rain water tank. Where do you start? It might seem elementary to readers already on a self-sustaining water supply, but it is a big question and there is a surprising amount of literature “out there” to help you get your answers. Did you know that a rain water tank can save up to 100,000litres of water each year in an average home?

The Australian Rainwater Industry Development (ARID) Group estimates that 19 percent of household usage is water for toilet flushing, while anywhere from 35 to 50 percent of water is used in the garden.

ARID says that in nine months, a Sydney family off our would have had enough rain water har­vested off their roof to complete all the laundry washing and toilet flushing use. Or they could have had 75 hours of garden watering.

Most information resources suggest that tanks be installed to supplement the household usage but not for drinking water, alth­ough they are commonly used for just this purpose on most farms and small acreages.

Before you buy a rain water tank, it’s important to make a plan first so that you end up with a tank that best suits your needs and situation.

If you intend to use rain water in your home and garden, you need to install a tank with at least a 5000-lltre capacity~ However, your tank size will also depend on your site’s constraints.

 by Kaili Parker-Price

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A WATER efficient shower rose can save you heaps. Showering is one of the big­gest uses of water in the home, and hot water makes up about 50 percent of the water used in the shower.

These calculations show how much money, water, energy and greenhouse gas an average household can save in a year just by choosing water efficient shower roses. Substitute your house­hold data to estimate how much you could save.

Shower and save

HOW much water does a regular shower use?

Flow rate of a normal shower rose — 13 litres per min

Average time of showers — 8 minutes Number of people in the house — 4 people

Number of showers per day for each person - 1.0 showers

Quantity of water used for showers in the household — 416 litres per day

Total annual shower water use — 151,840 litres

HOW much water does a water efficient shower use?

Flow rate of a new water efficient shower rose — 9 litres per min

Average time of showers — 8 minutes

Number of people in the house — 4 people

Numbers of showers per day for each person - 1.0 showers

Quantity of water used for showers in the household — 288 litres per day

Total annual shower water use — 105,120 litres

HOW much energy does a water efficient shower save?

Hot water saved in one day using new shower rose — 64 litres

Kilowatt hours saved per day - 4.27 kWh

So how much water, energy, green­house gas and money, is saved in a year?

Water saved - 46,720 litres per year

Cost of water saved - $38.31 per year

Energy saved -1,557.33 kWh per year

Tonnes of C02 saved - 1.56 tonnes per yearr

Cost of electricity saved on Tariff 33 - $164.56 per year

Total savings T33 — $202.87 per year.

( Water cost $0.82 per KL
* Electricity cost based on calcula­tions of Tariff 33 at $0.08107 per kWh )