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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 01 Hansard (Thursday, 12 February 2004) . . Page.. 394 ..

Staff and students are asked to be conscious of water waste and minimise usage where possible.

$200,000 has been allocated from the 2003/04 minor new works program to repair and improve efficiency of taps and urinals, and to install water displacement devices in cisterns, mainly in high school student toilets.

A project officer from Facilities Management of the Department of Eduction has been appointed to assist schools with the task of identifying areas within each school for achieving savings. The project officer will give priority to visiting schools that have a large site area compared to enrolment, and to high schools in relation to student toilets.

For the purposes of water restrictions schools are classified as parks, sports fields, golf courses and public gardens, so the requirement is that they need to achieve a overall reduction of 40% in water use. Under this classification sprinklers and hand held hoses can be used at any time. However, unless there are strong reasons to the contrary, grounds irrigation will not take place after 10am or before 7pm consistent with the requirement imposed on residential customers.

Hospitals (Canberra)

The sprinkler system servicing the Canberra Hospital is turned off. The only watering is via rainfall. At present the "cut backs" have been voluntary and recent rainfall has assisted in maintaining growth during the Spring period. If this continues, plant loss is not expected. However, if a prolonged period of dry, hot weather is encountered, sprinklers will be reinstated. The preference for watering is the survival of plants, shrubs and established trees and letting the grassed areas remain unwatered except those areas with trees established.

Totalcare (Mitchell site)

Totalcare is restricted in its ability to reduce water usage because its primary water usage is in the linen service. This washing must be undertaken to meet particular health standards.

Totalcare has improved mechanisms and procedures to improve water use. These have been primarily based on undertaking more efficient washing cycles and reducing the need for re washing as much as possible. These steps have resulted in a 26% decrease in water usage between 2001-02 and 2002-03.

Totalcare expects more reductions in water use are expected to be achieved in 2003-04 with the implementation of a new iron that will further reduce the need to re-wash.

Totalcare have implemented the following actions in response to Stage 3 water restrictions:

• All sprinklers have been turned off; and

• All on-site truck washing has ceased. Trucks are now washed at commercial car washing facilities that recycle water.

Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT)

The CIT has been committed to the conservation of natural resources for many years and has invested funds to help achieve the ACT Government’s initiatives for the conservation on natural resources. Savings on water consumption is of paramount importance to the Institute and the following programs have been implemented to help achieve the targeted 40% reduction in water use.

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