Living in the hinterland above Coffs Harbour, Bob relies on rainwater collected in tanks.
That makes him acutely aware of how much water he uses. If his water pump starts unexpectedly, he checks for a leaking tap or garden hose.
He also pays close attention to weather forecasts, particularly as Europe and North America experience severe wildfires and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology has given a heads-up of a “strong to very strong El Niño event, based on the extent of warming in the central tropical Pacific”.
The City of Coffs Harbour is encouraging other residents, most of whom are connected to the town water supply, to become more conscious of their water use.
“Coffs Harbour is fortunate to have access to good quality drinking water, supported in large part by the Orara River, but it is a resource we should never take for granted,” Mayor Nikki Williams said.
As part of that effort, the City is offering households connected to the mains water supply a discounted device designed to encourage shorter showers.
For a limited time, eligible households can buy a ShowerStar for $25, down from a usual retail price of about $75.
“This promotion is a practical way to help households save water, reduce costs and build water-wise habits at home,” Williams said.
The device is easily installed and uses coloured lights to show how long a person has been in the shower, encouraging shorter showers and reduced water use.
“The City is subsidising the cost of these water-smart devices to encourage water-wise habits which can benefit both your household budget and the environment,” City Infrastructure Director Andrew Beswick said.
“For many of us, water is simply there when we turn on the tap, so it can be easy to take it for granted. But reliable water and sewer services depend on critical infrastructure that is often out of sight, until something goes wrong.”
An independent study of a ShowerStar rollout found people who installed the device reduced their shower time by an average of two minutes.
Shorter showers are one of several ways households can reduce water use. Fixing leaking taps, choosing water-efficient appliances and paying closer attention to everyday consumption can also help.
Across thousands of households, those small changes can add up.
A ShowerStar can help households:
- save water each day
- reduce hot water and energy costs
- develop water-wise habits
- track their progress using an optional app.
“The Orara River Catchment which includes areas surrounding Karangi, Coramba and Nana Glen plays a vital role in supplying water to some 30,000 households across the Local Government Area,” Mr Beswick said.
The City’s ShowerStar promotion is now open. Residents can find out more and apply for a device on the City of Coffs Harbour website.
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