chels

1. Encourage people to reuse, recycle and save water by increasing grants for water tanks, grey water systems, dual flush converters etc.
2. Incentivise businesses to use water more efficiently
3. Insist that all new homes and bathroom / kitchen renovations install water efficient devices
4. Actually carry out enforcement measures / fines (and maybe publish offenders details in the local papers to shame them?)
5. Lead by example, and install water efficient devices and encourage water saving and reuse in government buildings, schools, hospitals, social housing etc.
6. And the biggie - increase water prices (eg staggered pricing systems so heavy water users pay more).

Along with the Federal government, the state governments should be working together to tackle the issue on a national basis so that areas with water shortages get the water they need, and areas with plenty of water don't get penalised.

I'm in favour of introducing water recyling nationally, improving the storm water drain systems, building dams in areas where the rain falls, but all this will cost money and will Australian taxpayers be prepared to pay extra taxes to pay for all new infrastructure and remedial work on current systems?

JaneandJim

Only by buying it in in tankers using water from areas that aren't under level 5 restrictions. You can top it up as a last resort using town water if you have a water tank and three of the other water saving measures. That's in Brisbane, anyways.

Jane

themerlin

Yep. but from July you have to have 3 water saving devices before you can top up the pool.
But you can't fill new pools under level 5.

yanH

Agree with all of that other than point 6. The problem with this is it allows rich people to carry on indiscriminately watering their lawn etc whilst at the same time making poor people worry whether they can afford to flush their toilet.

I think the key as you pointed out is more efficient water use and retention and yes if necessary costs should rise to pay for improvements. I still find it remarkable that new build housing doesn't have a requirement to store rainwater and have grey water recycling. A new house is being built just up from us with no rainwater storage at all

JaneandJim

The press seem to have forgotton that it was Kevin Rudd who blocked the building of water infrastructure all those years ago. Thankfully, the local people haven't, at least not round here.

Jane

JaneandJim

Back when the Gold Coast was in drought, a pipeline was built from Wivenhoe so that the Gold Coast had water. Wouldn't you have thought they would have had the foresight to make it 2 way? Apparantly we're still sending water down your way because of contractual obligations from back then!

Jane

walaj

This has been stated why several people my oh works with, don't have a water tank. Water is so cheap (maybe tanks too expensive), that even with rebate for installing a water tank, it is still so much more than the cost saving of metered water saved.

themerlin

Have a sliding scale. The amount of water you need to wash and drink is cheap, then if you go over that amount you pay though the nose for the rest.

JaneandJim

We had to have a water tank fitted as part of our planning approval. We were having one anyways (7000 gallon and its only half full ) but it looks like its down to individual councils.

Jane

cresta57

You could build 100's of dams if there's insufficient rain to fill the ones we have the new ones would just be just as empty.
Beattie & the Qld govt. have been relying on rain for too long. Dams are not a solution, desalination and educating the population in water conservation are far better long term solutions. Plugging leaks and replacing aging pipes should be ongoing.
Mandatory installation of water tanks and water saving devices in all new homes should be brought in immediately. Water tanks should be a must for anyone with a pool. Recycling waste water should be introduced and prioritized not talked about and dismissed as potentially vote losing.

chels

Like themerlin says, staggered / sliding scales would ensure that people have enough water for everyday essential use, but non-essential usuage (watering gardens, filling pools etc) would cost more. It would certainly make people more careful and not to waste water like they currently do. While they can still turn the tap on and get continuous fresh drinking water out of every outlet, some people will do that without a care about droughts and the hardships others are facing.

TrickyTree

Thats right its pointless building dams if theres no rain? I was up in Gympie over easter so went for a drive to Borumba and then back through where the Traveston dam is being built and that site looks like a huge white elephant waiting to happen.

Everyone seems to scared to mention recycled water (especially with an election on the horizon) when I can see no other option. Beattie has left it to late to even start these projects now with dam water projected to run out sometime next year.

NedKelly

They are now increasing the height of Hinze Dam. So when it was originally 50% full it will now be 35% full (or something like that). What a good excuse for bringing in more water restrictions, "Hey folks, we have a bigger dam now, you are going on water restrictions to help fill it up" A few months back it was flowing over the top! Tossers.

yanH

Would you base the amount on the no of people in a house or simply an amount per property. Its just that households with young children tend to use more water than some other households down to increased washing/bathing etc?

chels

Someone could say that rather than have children, they choose to have a large garden so why can't they use the water they don't use on bathing kids on their plants instead?

Seriously, maybe there could be a rebate system so that larger families could claim back some of the costs?