Sydney Water

Sydney receives an average of 40 inches of rain per year as opposed to our 10 inches.  Sydney residents pay .007 cents per gallon of water.  Up from .004 cents per gallon in 2005.  This is 58% raise in 4 years.  We pay .004 cents per gallon, expected to go up 40% in the next year resulting in about .006 cents per gallon.  Sydney reduced water use by 10% city wide since 2005, that despite a population increase of 5%.  People in Sydney use 90 gallons per person per day, compared to our 180 gallons.  How does this compare when we consider the minimal amount of rain we get?!

Sydney is a wet city, comparitively, on a dry continent, and yet they still get it!  They encourage their citizens to conserve by offering rebates on water tanks and greywater systems.  They have incredible resources readily available to anyone and everyone from your average citizen interested in conserving, to someone who wants to put in a tank, to teachers in schools.  

Check out some of the projects that Sydney City is involved in to help conserve water.  Maybe we can be inspired!

From Sydney's water department website:

Sydney Water's rebate is available to residential, commercial and industrial customers who install a rainwater tank before June 2010.

You can get a rebate of up to $1,500 depending on:

• the date you bought your tank
• the size of your tank (State Government)
• • 500-1000gallons $150
  • 1000-1850 gallons $400
  • 1850+ $500
• (Federal Government) whether a licensed plumber connects your rainwater tank supply to your toilet ($500) and/or washing machine ($500). National Rainwater and Greywater Initiative. 

Water restrictions currently in effect:

• Hand-held hosing of lawns and gardens and drip irrigation is now allowed only on Wednesdays and Sundays before 10 am and after 4 pm
• No other watering systems or sprinklers are to be used at any time
• A permit from Sydney Water is required to fill new or renovated pools bigger than 10,000 litres
• No hosing of hard surfaces including vehicles at any time
• No hoses or taps to be left running unattended, except when filling pools or containers
• Fire hoses must only be used for fire fighting purposes – not for cleaning.