Non-residential water conservation measures

With the arrival of warm weather, Gold Coast Water would like to remind all businesses that permanent water conservation measures are still in place for non-residential customers.

Listed here are some of the key measures that non-residential customers need to be aware of.

• Water users of more than 10 million litres a year must comply with their Water Efficiency Management Plan to achieve 25% water savings or best practice water use (205 Gold Coast businesses fall into this category).
• Water users of more than 1 million litres a year must have water efficient appliances. These include low-flow taps, trigger sprays, showerheads, urinals and cooling towers (1154 Gold Coast businesses fall into this category).
• Vehicle washers must only use water in accordance with Queensland Water Commission guidelines.
• Non-residential pool and spa operators must keep a weekly log of water used and install a rainwater tank, a sub-meter and a clear view screen in the backwash outlet line where required, together with a range of water efficient fittings.
  Note: operators of swimming pools and spas situated within the common area of a Community Title Scheme are also required to implement this measure.
• Operators of visitor accommodation must display water conservation information in bathrooms to encourage guests to save water.

Gold Coast Water offer a range of complimentary water conservation materials including stickers and fact sheets, that will help your business adhere to current conservation measures. To find out more click here.

For more information on water conservation measures visit the Queensland Water Commission website.

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Prime Minister’s Water Wise Award

The Prime Minister's Water Wise Award is the nation's top award for water efficiency excellence by commercial and industrial water users. Organisations who demonstrate notable recent water savings, either through significant percentage reduction in usage or through bulk water savings, are encouraged to enter this prestigious award.

Nominations close 30 November 2009.

The inaugural Prime Minister's Water Wise Award will be presented at the Australian Water Association’s National Awards Ceremony to be held during Ozwater'10 in March next year. The award is part of the Water Efficiency Opportunities program administered by the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA).

If you would like your business to be recognised for its efforts in reducing water consumption, please download the nomination guidelines and form from the DEWHA website.

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Business Watersaver case studies

There are many ways in which Gold Coast businesses have and continue to save water. Some of these initiatives have been easy to implement, e.g. establishing a leaks program; in other cases, substantial planning has been required, e.g. the introduction of recycled water.

Gold Coast Water recognises the efforts of Gold Coast businesses to reduce water consumption. These efforts contribute to sustaining future water supplies in a rapidly growing Gold Coast City. The Business Watersaver program aims to develop and share case studies demonstrating best practice initiatives to help drive water saving behaviour.

If your business has implemented water saving initiatives to reduce its consumption, Gold Coast Water would like to hear from you!

If you would like to share your Business Watersaver story, please email the following details to watersaver@goldcoastwater.com.au

• Business name
• Industry
• Contact name
• Contact number
• Brief overview of what your business is doing to save water

A Gold Coast Water representative will contact you shortly after receiving your email.

To find out more about the Business Watersaver program and view the current range of case studies click here.

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New swipe tag system for recycled water stations

Gold Coast Water is currently installing an automated access and metering system at its recycled water filling stations. Due to be implemented by late 2009, the new system will require authorised recycled water carriers to swipe a programmed access tag to collect recycled water. The new system will enable Gold Coast Water to better monitor recycled water use and prevent unauthorised access.

The first stage of installation has commenced with existing standpipe fittings being converted to 63mm (2 ½”) male camlock fittings. This requires each recycled water vessel to be fitted with a 63mm female camlock fitting. Once these installations are complete, standpipes will no longer be required by recycled water carriers.

For more information on the new swipe tag system, please contact Gold Coast Water on 1300 366 692 or email waterinfo@goldcoastwater.com.au.

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Carriers to access Class A+ recycled water

Gold Coast Water is pleased to announce that authorised recycled water carriers and eligible businesses located in the Pimpama Coomera Master Plan area will be able to access Class A+ recycled water in the coming months. This is in addition to Class C recycled water, which is already available to authorised carriers.

Class A+ recycled water will be charged at $1.34 per kilolitre (1000 litres) and will be available to authorised water carriers at the Pimpama Recycled Water Treatment Plant. It will also be provided to approved property based businesses in the Pimpama Coomera Master Plan region via the dual reticulation network.

Class A+ recycled water is the highest class of recycled water in Queensland for non-drinking purposes. It can be used for a range of activities including: irrigating lawns, gardens, fruit trees and vegetable crops; construction works; vehicle washing; animal husbandry and commercial uses, as approved by Gold Coast Water.

If your business is located within the Pimpama Coomera Master Plan area and is interested in connecting to Class A+ recycled water or if you would like more information on becoming an authorised Class A+ recycled water carrier, please contact Gold Coast Water on 1300 366 692 or email waterinfo@goldcoastwater.com.au.

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Plumbers learn about Class A+ recycled water

Peter Northey at the
Master Plumbers Association
of Queensland tradeshow

Gold Coast City Council is working with the plumbing industry to ensure plumbers have the latest information about working with Class A+ recycled water, which will soon be supplied to dual reticulated properties in the Pimpama Coomera Master Plan region.

A Gold Coast City Council information stall at the recent plumbing industry trade show provided an opportunity for local plumbers to get the latest information about working with Class A+ recycled water in the Pimpama Coomera region.

In addition, local plumbers have participated in a workshop at the Pimpama Recycled Water Treatment Plant. The workshop equipped plumbers with information on installing and carrying out maintenance work on dual reticulated properties that are ready to receive Class A+ recycled water.  The plumbers also learnt about the Class A+ recycled water treatment process during a site tour of the $80 million state of the art facility.

Council's Plumbing Inspector Peter Northey said the workshop and the stall at the trade show was invaluable for those plumbers interested in learning more about this exciting new product.

“The response at the tradeshow and the workshop was positive and plenty of questions were asked to ensure that plumbers are aware of the requirements and their responsibilities for connecting houses and businesses to Class A+ recycled water,” said Peter Northey.

If you are a plumber and would like to know more about the changes taking place in the Pimpama Coomera region please click here.

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Water Efficiency Management Plan and cooling tower reporting

Under Queensland Water Commission (QWC) water restrictions, all businesses with an annual water consumption greater than 10 mega litres (ML) must have a Water Efficiency Management Plan (WEMP) in place.

To date, WEMP and cooling tower reports have been required by the QWC on a quarterly basis.

To help reduce the regulatory burden on businesses, these reports are now required to be submitted on an annual basis only.

Important!
All 2009 reports must be submitted by 13 November 2009.

How to submit your annual reports
Your 2009 reports must be submitted to your Water Service Provider (WSP), Gold Coast Water, using the following templates.

1. WEMP reports: WG-16 Customer Annual Report Template
2. Cooling tower reports: WG-14 Customer Annual Cooling Tower Report Template

Both templates are available from the QWC website www.qwc.qld.gov.au

You must provide the following in your annual report/s:

1. sufficient water meter and/or cooling tower data
2. the progress made on the projects identified in your WEMP during the reporting year

For further information regarding annual reporting, please visit www.qwc.qld.gov.au. If you would prefer a Gold Coast Water Customer Liaison Officer to attend your business to provide assistance in completing an annual report, please contact Gold Coast Water’s Customer Contact Centre on 1300 366 692 to arrange an appointment.

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‘Clean Business Australia’ grants

As part of the Federal Government’s $240 million ‘Clean Business Australia’ initiative, a range of incentives are available to businesses looking to improve their water and energy efficiency.

Re-tooling for Climate Change

The Re-tooling for Climate Change program will help small and medium sized Australian manufacturers reduce their environmental footprint, through projects that improve the water and/or energy efficiency of their production processes. The program provides grants of between $10,000 and $500,000, up to a maximum of half of the cost of each project.

The deadline for round 5 applications is 30 November 2009.

Green Building Fund

The Green Building Fund ($90m over 5 years) aims to reduce the impact of Australia's built environment on greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the energy consumed in the operation of existing commercial office buildings. The program will provide grants through two streams of activity.

Stream A: targets owners of existing commercial office buildings. It supports the reduction in owners energy consumption by retro-fitting and retro-commissioning these buildings. Grants ranging from $50,000 to $500,000 are available for up to 50% of project costs.

The deadline for Stream A round 5 applications is 12 January 2010.

Stream B: targets relevant industry associations. It will provide a limited number of grants to develop the knowledge, skills or capability of those involved in the operation of commercial office buildings, to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions. Grants of up to $200,000 are available for up to 50% of project costs.

The deadline for Stream B round 2 applications is 12 January 2010.

For more information on the ‘Re-tooling for Climate Change’ program or the ‘Green Building Fund’ please contact the AusIndustry hotline on 13 28 46, email hotline@ausindustry.gov.au or visit the website.

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2009 savewater! award winners

The winners of the seventh national savewater! awards were announced on Friday 9 October at a gala ceremony in Sydney. Over 700 entries were received and of these, fourteen winners were announced.

While the awards focus on water conservation achievements, they also demonstrate a commitment to achieving a range of sustainable outcomes.

The winners of the 2009 savewater! awards® included:

• Built Environment & Gardens - Jerry Coleby-Williams
• Business Award (Small Business <50 staff) - Dugine Native Plant Nursery
• Business Award (Large Business >50 staff) - ManheimFowles Pty Ltd
• Community Action - Croydon Tennis Club / Joseph Gauci
• Educational Institutions  - Ecolinc Science and Technology Innovations Centre, Bacchus Marsh
• Government (Water Corporations) - Western Water
• Government (Other Utilities) - Melbourne Market Authority
• International Product Innovations Award (Australian Product) - Davey Water Products
• International Product Innovations Award (International Product) - Dry Planet Ltd (UK)
• Young Achiever - Leon Harvey - Melbourne Water
• Photographic Award (Primary School) - Hannah Mossop, Bacchus Marsh Primary School
• Photographic Award (Secondary School) - Georgia Wiggs, The Peninsula School and Suzanne Mackie, Charleville State High School (Equal first)
• Photographic Award (General) - Annette Blattman, NSW

“The savewater! awards® are a great way to give recognition to our nation’s water saving heroes.” said Mr Nigel Finney, CEO of the savewater!® Alliance Inc.

“All of this year’s winners have highlighted the significant changes in the thinking and behaviour towards water efficiency. We hope that all Australians will continue to take practical steps and lead the way in preserving our precious water resources.” said Mr Finney.

For further information on the national 2009 savewater! awards visit www.savewater.com.au.

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Complimentary Business Watersaver materials

There are many things you can do to save water in your business. One simple way is to let staff and visitors know what they can do to be water efficient.

Gold Coast Water can send you complimentary stickers for your bathrooms and kitchens, as well as a poster for you to put up that explains the purpose of the stickers to your staff.

A sticker has also been developed specifically for accommodation providers. If you operate a hotel, motel or other accommodation service, you can play an important role in encouraging guests to save water.

To place an order simply email the following details to watersaver@goldcoastwater.com.au.

• business name and industry
• postal address
• contact number, and
• the number of stickers and posters you require

To view the suite of complimentary Business Watersaver materials including stickers, posters and fact sheets, click here.

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Contact us

Your feedback is important and will ensure we continue to communicate information to you in the best way possible. Please email us at watersaver@goldcoastwater.com.au with any queries or comments.

Website: www.goldcoastwater.com.au/watersaver

Phone: Gold Coast Water Customer Contact Centre 1300 366 692

Post: Gold Coast City Council, PO Box 5042, Gold Coast MC Qld 9729

Information provided in this eNewsletter is provided as a free service to the Gold Coast business community.

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Subscribe / unsubscribe

You have been sent a copy of this Water Biz eNewsletter as a key business on the Gold Coast. To be removed from this mailing list or update your details, please email your request to either unsubscribe or update.

If a business associate would like to subscribe to this eNewsletter, they should email their request to watersaver@goldcoastwater.com.au.

To subscribe to other Gold Coast Water eNewsletters visit our eNewsletter subscriptions webpage.

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• © 2009 Gold Coast City Council
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