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Frequently asked questions
Why not just give everyone a rainwater tank to save water rather than investing in desalination?
Desalination may appear more costly than most conventional water supply options, but it has one absolute advantage over rainwater tanks: it provides a source of water to the community that does not depend on rain. In comparison, rainwater tanks are subject to the impacts of drought and a changing climate. So while they make a useful contribution to diversifying Sydney’s water supply, they do not guarantee the same level of water security as desalination or recycling.
To supply the amount of water that the Kurnell desalination plant could produce operating at full capacity, more than 2 million rainwater tanks would need to be installed in Sydney. At an average cost of at least $3000, the minimum total cost of such a program would be $6 billion, more than three times the cost of the desalination plant. This does not take into account additional costs such as connecting tanks for internal use.
While our rainwater tank rebate program remains an important element of reducing pressure on drinking water supplies, rainwater tanks are not the sole solution as their effectiveness depends on increasingly uncertain climatic conditions.
NSW Health does not support the use of rainwater tanks for drinking purposes where town water supply is available.
How much is being saved now?
Since 1999, Sydney has saved about 57 billion litres a year through reducing its annual demand for drinking water. This is on top of the 415 billion litres saved since the implementation of water restrictions in October 2003. Sydney Water has invested more than $240 million in water conservation activities, including demand management, leakage reduction and recycling.
The Government’s target is to see water savings of 145 billion litres each year by 2015. To achieve this, the Metropolitan Water Plan includes a range of programs designed to save water across each major area of demand for households, businesses, farming and government.
What about drought restrictions?
Drought restrictions continue to play an essential role in responding to the current drought and remain an important tool for responding to future droughts. However, the NSW Government’s investments in groundwater, desalination and other measures mean that there is now no need for tougher Level 4 and Level 5 restrictions.
As part of the update of the Metropolitan Water Plan, an improved drought restrictions regime for the next drought will be developed to take account of the experiences and community responses from this drought and new developments such as the desalination plant.
When will level three drought restrictions be eased?
Sydney's recent rainfall during the first half of 2008, has enabled the Government to ease water restrictions to allow vehicle and house washing with a hose fitted with a trigger nozzle for residential customers in Sydney, the Blue Mountains and the Illawarra. Sydney Water estimates that these measures will increase water consumption by less than a half of one per cent a year. The remaining level three drought restrictions remain in place.
The Government will continue to seek expert advice on rainfall projections prior to making any further decisions on easing water restrictions.
What are the next steps in reducing demand?
- Continue to develop and pilot new programs to save water, including:
- Piloting new programs to meter apartments and replace single flush toilets
- Piloting new programs to retrofit business amenity areas (such as staff washrooms)
- Investigating options to ensure water efficient design of new commercial buildings and industrial facilities
- Investigating options to encourage even greater water efficiency in existing homes
- Investigating a new efficient irrigation scheduling project for farmers.
- Work with business to finalise remaining Water Savings Action Plans
- Deliver the new $30 million NSW Green Business Program to save water and energy
- Deliver a new $3 million farm watering efficiency program
- Assess whether guidelines for the use of rivers and groundwater for domestic stock requirements should be released as statutory rules
- Long term water saving rules will commence when drought restrictions are lifted.