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Overall Award for Excellence
For overall exceptional contribution to water sustainability.
This award acknowledges the organisation or individual that has made the greatest contribution to sustainability from the above categories.
There is no separate nomination process for this award – all finalists in the savewater! awards® are considered.
Congratulations to our winner, Melbourne Zoo
Melbourne Zoo
Since 1995, Melbourne Zoo has worked diligently to implement an integrated water management plan that has halved the Zoo’s annual water usage. This plan details a range of conservation measures that include infrastructure upgrades, changes to work practices and utilizing new products and technologies.
The Zoo has gone above and beyond to preserve this precious resource. Exhibits have been modified, water-wise work practices introduced and data-loggers installed to allow constant monitoring of water use around the 20ha site.
In 2006, Melbourne Zoo’s Water Treatment Plant was commissioned to treat and reuse storm and grey water to use for irrigation, exhibit cleaning and pool filling.
The Zoo's irrigation management now has a greater emphasis on optimizing water use. A soon to be completed Central Irrigation Control System will further enhance the efficient use of irrigation water. It will provide a greater opportunity to monitor use, will have fault alarms and will operate in conjunction with an onsite weather station.
Maintaining high levels of cleanliness in animal exhibits requires large amounts of water. To manage this, high pressure cleaners have replaced many hoses and this alone has considerably reduced water use. For example, the use of high pressure cleaners in the baboons exhibit saves approximately 1,800 litres per day or 650,000 litres over a year.
These initiatives have resulted in a major reduction in Melbourne Zoo’s water usage. In 1995 potable water usage at the Zoo was 373.4ML. In 2006 that figure was 197.1ML and in 2007 approximately 142.3ML.
Working closely with City West Water and Melbourne Water the Zoo has made significant water savings over the awards period and beyond.
The Zoo has gone above and beyond to preserve this precious resource. Exhibits have been modified, water-wise work practices introduced and data-loggers installed to allow constant monitoring of water use around the 20ha site.
In 2006, Melbourne Zoo’s Water Treatment Plant was commissioned to treat and reuse storm and grey water to use for irrigation, exhibit cleaning and pool filling.
The Zoo's irrigation management now has a greater emphasis on optimizing water use. A soon to be completed Central Irrigation Control System will further enhance the efficient use of irrigation water. It will provide a greater opportunity to monitor use, will have fault alarms and will operate in conjunction with an onsite weather station.
Maintaining high levels of cleanliness in animal exhibits requires large amounts of water. To manage this, high pressure cleaners have replaced many hoses and this alone has considerably reduced water use. For example, the use of high pressure cleaners in the baboons exhibit saves approximately 1,800 litres per day or 650,000 litres over a year.
These initiatives have resulted in a major reduction in Melbourne Zoo’s water usage. In 1995 potable water usage at the Zoo was 373.4ML. In 2006 that figure was 197.1ML and in 2007 approximately 142.3ML.
Working closely with City West Water and Melbourne Water the Zoo has made significant water savings over the awards period and beyond.