How bad is the drought?
Apr 21st 2007, 8:30 am
#31
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 9,397
Re: How bad is the drought?
The abjectly dysfunctional NSW government is trying hard to make us feel shame for using any water at all. But the last major investment in harvesting for Sydney was 40 years ago when the Warragamba was planned. Since than the population has at least doubled - with no further planned or costed dams!
Any new build here has to have a BASIX certificate at the planning stage - a "sustainability" approval. Sounds fair enough - but again, dysfunctional in the application. You set up an account on the BASIX website and have to enter things like how your water is heated, square metreage of the house, type of lights in rooms, windows etc.
In our case, it came up with a requirement for a 45,000L raintank, collecting from the entire roof and connected to laundry and toilets. I then entered that we planned a bore - and the requirement became a 10,000L tank - and used for watering the garden, not connected inside at all!
Friends are building just up the road - they want a pool (despite there being only a six week swimming window but that's their problem!) and BASIX said that was a no-no UNLESS they installed reverse cycle air con, in which case they would get enough points! They don't WANT A/C!
No doubt the politicians think they are doing a great job.....
Any new build here has to have a BASIX certificate at the planning stage - a "sustainability" approval. Sounds fair enough - but again, dysfunctional in the application. You set up an account on the BASIX website and have to enter things like how your water is heated, square metreage of the house, type of lights in rooms, windows etc.
In our case, it came up with a requirement for a 45,000L raintank, collecting from the entire roof and connected to laundry and toilets. I then entered that we planned a bore - and the requirement became a 10,000L tank - and used for watering the garden, not connected inside at all!
Friends are building just up the road - they want a pool (despite there being only a six week swimming window but that's their problem!) and BASIX said that was a no-no UNLESS they installed reverse cycle air con, in which case they would get enough points! They don't WANT A/C!
No doubt the politicians think they are doing a great job.....
