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City of Ballarat
The City of Ballarat has reduced its water consumption by 48 per cent since 1999, amounting to an annual saving equivalent to 176 Olympic sized swimming pools.
To get started, Council first addressed its biggest user of potable water, the Ballarat Livestock Selling Centre, which uses 46.88ML (almost 47 Olympic sized pools) of potable water per year. With the help of a Stormwater and Urban Water Conservation Fund grant, a water recycling process will be installed to reduce this consumption by more than 28ML annually.
Other initiatives include a review of watering practices for parks and gardens; earlier plantings to ensure roots develop before summer; and extensive use of mulch and soil additives to improve water retention. Backwash recycling tanks and solar blankets were also installed at the Aquatic Centre.
“The City of Ballarat is the first regional council in Victoria to take on such a program and we have identified and implemented a number of water-saving opportunities,” says Ballarat Mayor, Cr David Vendy. “We have successfully made all Council divisions aware of water conservation and we are developing a local action plan, with community consultation, to continue our commitment.”