Appreciating Life's Little Things

早上在 radio 上聽到副省長 Anna Bligh 講有關 Level 5 Water Restriction 的事. 沒有全部聽完, 聽說跟洗澡時間有關係… 可是之後上線看 Level 5 Draft, 都沒提到洗澡時間的 restriction 呢. 最讓我注意到的是不准洗車了 = = 除非是用自己的 rainwater tank 裡面的水. 現在水塘的水位只剩21%… 真的很讓人擔心….

以下的報導是我爸寄給我的. 說recommend大家的洗澡時間別超過四分鐘. 這樣可以省下很多水. 想起星期天, 兩個小女孩雖然不懂事, 可是洗澡開大水 (大到我們家plumbing都響了), 而且洗了二十幾分鐘都還不出來, 真的很浪費水…. 那天有點不高興. 不過事情都發生了, 也不能怎樣. 現在開始, 大家要更努力的去 save water 囉….

Land of the four-minute shower
Rosanne Barrett, Chris Griffith and Tuck Thompson
March 09, 2007 10:09am
(Courier Mail)

Image: Showers have been identified as the main user of indoor water and will be the target of new SEQ restrictions. Households with high water consumption will be sent letters to “please explain” excess consumption.

SOUTH-East Queenslanders will be encouraged to shower for no more than four minutes – and pay much more for the privilege – under tough new Level Five water restrictions from April 10.

The suggested shower time – three minutes less than the existing seven minute average – is aimed at making residents take personal responsibility for saving our dwindling water reserves.

And we’ll all pay more for the water we use.

Queensland Water Commissioner Elizabeth Nosworthy said that by 2012-13 a typical household’s annual water cost will increase from $355 to $876 – an increase of 147 per cent.

She said the average household which used about 250,000 litres a year would pay an extra $71 in 2008-09.

Ms Nosworthy said the price rise was justified because the $8 billion investment in new infrastructure would provide better services and secure water for the long term.

Lord Mayor Cr Campbell Newman Councillor Newman said councils were currently formulating their budgets for the next financial year and those budgets may include provision for a media campaign to fight the proposed state government charges.

He regarded this as councils being forced again to collect state government costs.

It had been made clear at the meeting that the states wanted full recovery of the costs of building the new water infrastructure.

Ms Nosworthy revealed today that the Level 5 restrictions, to kick in on April 10, are aimed at reducing average residential consumption by 40 litres per person per day to 140 litres per person.

Part of that will involve shorter showers, with residents asked to cut their average shower time to four minutes – a move that with an average flow of 12 litres of water a minute would save 36 litres.

The Commission also plans to distribute four-minute shower timers to help residents reduce shower time.

A new education campaign, “Target 140 “, is aimed at reducing consumption to 140 litres of water per person per day and will involve media publicity and direct mail to households.

Individuals will be asked to accept personal responsibility for achieving 140 litres of water per person per day use.

People will initially be asked to assess their own water consumption.

While the Commission is not planning to have inspectors enter private properties, it will counsel residents whose consumption is deemed excessive.

Council water consumption data (taken from household rates bills) shows that about 100,000 households currently use more than 800 litres a day and those properties will be required to fill in self-assessment audits showing the number of residents at a property and the water-saving measures in place.

Residents who do not cooperate with the audits will not be able to water outside.

The new rules will ban use of town water to fill all new pools and outdoor spas ,which will need to be filled with water from non-potable sources or from supplies outside the drought affected area.

From July 1, any topping-up of existing pools must be done from rainwater tanks or via rainwater diverters from downpipes but if those options are not available town water may be used as a last resort provided at least three additional water-saving measures are in place.

They included the installation of dual-flush toilets, a pool or spa cover, water efficient washing machine and the fitting of water efficient taps and shower heads.

There will be further restrictions on outdoor watering, with only two days of bucket watering permitted. Odd-numbered premises will be able to water between 4am and 8 am on Thursday and Saturday, and even-numbered premises between 4am and 8am on Friday and Sunday only.

But while reduced bucket watering will be allowed for gardens, it will be banned for lawns.

People with disabilities who are entitled to existing concessions will now be limited to between 4pm and 4.20pm on appropriate days.

Residents will also be banned from washing vehicles, caravans or boats, although
windscreens and side mirrors may be washed using a bucket only.

Exterior house cleaning is also banned – but an exemption applies for pre-painting preparation.

Reining in of water use by power stations will be done so there is no risk to regional grid supply.

Tarong power stations daily usage of water will go down from 20 megalitres to 12 megalitres.

If Level Six restrictions are implemented -possibly by as early as September – all outdoor watering will be banned for gardening.

The new restrictions will take a more heavy-handed approach to households with high water consumption who will be sent letters to “please explain” their excess consumption.

Analysis of rainfall data released by the commission last night shows supply levels are worse than previously thought.

At best, the region’s dams will reach 5 per cent of capacity by 2009 if current rainfall patterns continue and the planned restrictions have their effect.

The Queensland Water Commission has briefed regional mayors on the draft recommendations this morning, giving them time to respond before they go into effect on April 10.

More than 70 per cent of water use is by homeowners, and outdoor watering has already been greatly curtailed. Showers have been identified as the main user of indoor water – and will be the target of the new restrictions.

The Water Commission yesterday released new figures showing southeast Queensland would have only half the water supply at the end of 2008 of what was previously expected.

Monthly inflows into the region’s three principal dams – Wivenhoe, Somerset and North Pine – are half what was recorded during 2004-05, the worst year on record.

As long as pipelines and a desalination plant are delivered on time, the Water Commission does not predict water supplies will fall below 5 per cent of capacity, but it is preparing level 6 and 7 restrictions to enact if the situation changes.

The Water Commission also will give mayors their first look at treated water price increases.