March 2008
In this issue:
- What is the Pimpama Coomera Waterfuture Master Plan?
- Saving water at home
- Estimate your water savings!
- Upper Coomera resident mindful of saving water
- Are you ready for Class A+ recycled water?
- Maintaining your rainwater tank
- Pimpama Coomera Master Plan e-newsletter Competition Winner
- Subscribe / Unsubscribe
- Questions?
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Pimpama Coomera
Pimpama Coomera Waterfuture
Master Plan Community eNews
What is the Pimpama Coomera Waterfuture Master Plan?
The Master Plan aims to secure a sustainable water future for residents of Pimpama Coomera by reducing the use of precious drinking water.
Saving water at home
Residential water use accounts for up to three-quarters of the Gold Coast's total water usage. These water saving tips can help save thousands of litres each year.
Estimate your water savings!
Water calculators can estimate how much water you use and how much could be saved.
Upper Coomera resident mindful of saving water
Meet two newcomers to the Gold Coast who are particularly mindful of the importance of saving water.
Are you ready for Class A+ recycled water?
Council will provide updates on Class A+ recycled water and the completion of construction works through community eNewsletters and on the Pimpama Coomera website.
Maintaining your rainwater tank
Rainwater tanks are an integral part of the Pimpama Coomera Waterfuture Master Plan and regular maintenance is essential to ensure the highest water quality in your tank.
Pimpama Coomera Master Plan e-newsletter Competition Winner
We announce the winner of our Master Plan e-newsletter prize draw to win water efficient whitegoods worth up to $1000.
What is the Pimpama Coomera Waterfuture Master Plan?
The Master Plan aims to secure a sustainable water future for residents of Pimpama Coomera by reducing the use of precious drinking water.
High quality Class A+ recycled water will be supplied to the region for specific non-drinking purposes such as toilet flushing, garden watering, car washing, external cleaning and hose down.
Rainwater tanks will play a key role, along with Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) that uses engineered landscaping features to help slow, reduce and filter stormwater run-off and visually enhance the environment.
Saving water at home
Residential water use accounts for up to three-quarters of the Gold Coast's total water usage. There are many simple ways to save water in and around the home. By following these water saving tips you could save thousands of litres each year:
In the bathroom
Fact: Water efficient showerheads are now standard in all new bathroom fittings in Queensland.
- Fit a water efficient shower head to save up to 21,000 litres of water every year.
- Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth or shaving.
- A dual flush toilet saves up to 8 litres of water every time you use the half flush instead of the full flush.
In the kitchen
Fact: The average household uses approximately 12,000 to 15,000 litres of water a year.
- Half fill the sink to rinse dishes or clean fruit and vegetables. A running tap uses up to 20 litres of water per minute.
- When buying a dishwasher, choose a water efficient model. It will use less water than washing your dishes in the sink.
- Wait until you have a full load before turning on the dishwasher and use a water saving setting. A dishwasher uses between 16 and 32 litres per load.
In the laundry
Fact: Washing machines use up to 120 litres of water per load.
- For optimum water efficiency, make sure each cycle is a full load or adjust the water level to suit the size of the load.
- When buying a new washing machine, choose a water efficient front-loading model with a minimum '4 Star' rating.
Outdoors
Fact: More than one third of household water use occurs in the garden.
- Use a broom to sweep paved outdoor areas.
- Design your garden to save water:
- minimise lawn areas, use mulch to keep soil moist and plant water efficient native trees and plants
- use drought resistant grass for lawns
- plan your paths to direct water runoff to garden beds
- create more shade and shelter in your garden to reduce heat and provide more wind protection
- use a pool cover to prevent evaporation and reduce the need to top up your pool
From late 2008, Pimpama Coomera residents whose homes are fitted with the required purple pipe system will be able to water their gardens using Class A+ recycled water. Until then, residents with rainwater tanks that have captured rainwater, and which have not been topped up by the town mains drinking water supply, should use tank water for garden watering.
Gold Coast Water has re-introduced the Gold Coast Home Watersaver Rebate Scheme for the purchase of rainwater tanks.
Estimate your water savings!
An easy way to calculate the water saved by using water efficient appliances is a water calculator. Water calculators can estimate how much water you use and how much could be saved.
Websites with water calculators include:
- Choice
- Water Corporation
- House Water Expert - a software package that helps users calculate their water consumption and water savings.
Using water meters
You can also keep track of your water use by reading your water meter. Your water meter should be located in your front garden or where the water pipe enters your property. Dual reticulated homes and businesses are connected to two completely separate water networks with separate water meters: the traditional drinking (potable) water network and a purple coloured Class A+ recycled water network.
Visit the Gold Coast Water website for tips on how to read your water meter and to estimate your water bill.
Upper Coomera resident mindful of saving water
Fiona Smith, a newcomer to the Gold Coast, is particularly mindful of the importance of saving water. She moved to Upper Coomera with her husband Nigel from New Zealand in 2007.
"We are new arrivals to the country and had not experienced drought conditions to this extent before. So we were mindful of our need to contribute," said Fiona.
"We deliberately sought a home with as many water saving devices as possible, including water efficient whitegoods."
Fiona and Nigel live in a dual reticulated house. This means their house has an additional Class A+ recycled water (purple pipe) network - identified by an additional water meter and purple taps outside the house. Until Class A + recycled water arrives late 2008, drinking (potable) water runs through the recycled water pipe line.
"While we're waiting for the Class A+ to arrive in late 2008, we are using buckets in the showers and bowls in the basins to save water that would normally flow down the drains. These are emptied into the bath and when we need to use water for the garden or cleaning the car we get it from there.
Residents wishing to use excess bath and shower water for garden watering should contact Council to obtain permission. If they are granted permission to use the excess water in this way, as Fiona was, then they will receive a specific dispensation number.
"Our home is well equipped to save water since we fitted water efficient showerheads throughout and both toilets are dual flush. We've also been careful to adapt our daily routine to make sure that we are doing all we can to save water around the home."
Are you ready for Class A+ recycled water?
All Class A+ recycled water pipes, hoses and other products are coloured purple to avoid confusion with potable (drinking) water and rainwater. All purple outdoor taps should have removable handles. Please speak with your plumber or nearest plumbing supplies store for details of these products.
Council will provide updates on Class A+ recycled water and the completion of construction works through community e-newsletters and on the Pimpama Coomera website.
Maintaining your rainwater tank
Rainwater tanks are an integral part of the Pimpama Coomera Waterfuture Master Plan and regular maintenance is essential to ensure the highest water quality in your tank. This maintenance can be carried out by a tradesperson or by the resident/owner. Please be aware, however, that it is not Council's responsibility to maintain a rainwater tank.
February is a good month to:
- clean leaf guards and mosquito screens on rain heads
- clean first flush device
- check drain to ensure the discharge is not causing a nuisance
- check rainwater tank overflow to ensure discharge isn't causing problems
- check mosquito screen is intact
- remove leaves and debris from the gutter and downpipes
For further information please contact Gold Coast City Council Built Environment section on 07 5582 8393 or go to the Gold Coast City Council website.
Pimpama Coomera Master Plan e-newsletter Competition Winner
The Pimpama Coomera Master Plan water efficient whitegoods prizedraw.
Congratulations to Judy Laycock – winner of our Fisher & Paykel water efficient whitegoods prize draw!
All subscribers to the Pimpama Coomera Master Plan e-newsletter were automatically entered into the draw and a winner was selected at random by Gold Coast Water Program Manager, Peter Ham on 19 December 2007. We had a fantastic response to our water efficiency prize draw.
The lucky winner was Judy Laycock of Pimpama. Judy will receive her choice of either a dishwasher or washing machine from the water efficient Fisher & Paykel range, courtesy of The Good Guys in Bundall.
Subscribe / Unsubscribe
You have been sent a copy of this Master Plan Community e-newsletter as a key stakeholder for the Pimpama Coomera Waterfuture Master Plan. To be removed from this mailing list or update your details, please email your request to unsubscribe@pcwf.net.au.
If a family member or friend would like to subscribe to this e-newsletter, they should either email their request to subscribe@pcwf.net.au or visit our website at www.goldcoastwater.com.au/pimpamacoomera.
Questions?
Your feedback is vital to us to ensure we continue to communicate information to you in the best way possible. Please email us at info@pcwf.net.au with any queries regarding the Master Plan or to request any specific information.
Gold Coast City Council, PO Box 5042, Gold Coast MC Queensland 9729
© 2008 Gold Coast City Council