Hunter Water must do more to improve water efficiency and reduce leakage across its network rather than build a new dam, the Healthy Rivers group says.
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The group, which is fighting to prevent the construction of a future dam in the Lower Hunter, has seized on a 2018 report that highlights how improved water efficiency could delay the need to make a decision on supply augmentation measures for 10 years.
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The Hunter Water-commissioned report Water Efficiency and Demand Management says that many residential programs had not achieved the same participation rates as in other jurisdictions.
"A lack of regulatory and environmental drivers and associated lack of funding and incentive mechanisms by HWC have limited the uptake of programs and the implementation of savings," the report, produced by the Institute for Sustainable Futures, says.
"Considering the participation rates and the population size of the Hunter, there still appears to be water conservation potential in both the residential and non-residential sectors."
"Gaps in the suite of demand management and water efficiency programs run in the Lower Hunter region compared to other jurisdictions, most notably in the limited targeting of high-end users and multi-dwellings, limited rebates for efficient appliances and the absence of garden programs (except for water wise rules and nozzle giveaways)."
Independent MLC, Justin Field , who obtained the report among thousands of other documents relating to Hunter Water's planning activities as part of a call for papers order, said the report showed the construction of a new dam could not be justified.
"Hunter Water has failed to seriously invest in water efficiency and recycling and they are now trying to make the Lower Hunter community pay billions more for water for new dams as a result of these failures," he said.
"The reality is that water efficiency and recycling is cheaper, can be implemented more quickly and is less environmentally damaging than new dams. The new Lower Hunter Water Plan should set clear targets for water efficiency and recycling so the community can track Hunter Water's performance and hold them to account for how they spend ratepayers money."
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While Hunter Water has not committed to the construction of a new dam, it is among a range of water security measures under consideration as part of a review of the Lower Hunter Water Security Plan.
A spokesman said significant progress had been made regarding leakage reduction and improved water conservation in recent years.
"In the last three years Hunter Water's cumulative savings from reducing leakage is 34 per cent (2500 megalitres, or about 1000 Olympic-sized swimming pools)," he said.
"In the last financial year alone, Hunter Water surveyed more than 100 per cent of its water network, and has been using a range of smart technology including drones to detect and limit network leakage. This 34 per cent reduction in leakage places Hunter Water as one of the best-performing water utilities of its size anywhere in Australia."
"Hunter Water knows there is still more to do. We are now working towards a target by 2025 to give us an overall result of halving leakage over 10 years."
He said the Institute for Sustainable futures report had provided guidance towards achieving water savings.
"Water conservation is a key element to managing the supply and demand balance for the Lower Hunter region. Engagement with our community for the review of the Lower Hunter Water Security Plan has found that water conservation is highly valued. Ongoing investment in water conservation and leakage reduction has therefore been included in all of the options portfolios being considered for the region's future water security plan.
"Hunter Water encourages everyone in the community to continue to save now for summer and not become complacent with our water use. The severe drought demonstrated how quickly our water storages can fall during the warmer months as they have large surface areas and are prone to evaporation."
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Matthew Kelly
Matthew Kelly has worked as a journalist for more than 25 years. He has been working as a general reporter at the Newcastle Herald since 2018. In recent years he has reported on subjects including environment, energy, water security, manufacturing and higher education. He has previously covered issues including the health and environmental impacts of uncovered coal wagons in the Hunter Valley, the pollution of legacy of former industrial sites and freedom of information issues.
Matthew Kelly has worked as a journalist for more than 25 years. He has been working as a general reporter at the Newcastle Herald since 2018. In recent years he has reported on subjects including environment, energy, water security, manufacturing and higher education. He has previously covered issues including the health and environmental impacts of uncovered coal wagons in the Hunter Valley, the pollution of legacy of former industrial sites and freedom of information issues.
