Savings available through Rain water collection

Frida28 November 2008

Water meters or Savings available through Rain water collection

The whole energy and water conservation debate is being framed as curtailment. However, plentiful sunlight and rainwater fall on our houses and it is just a matter of harvesting it.

We drink only 5 per cent of our highly refined drinking water, yet we are paying for the other 95 per cent to be treated to the highest drinking standards, just to flush the toilet, take a shower and do your laundry.

Waitakere City Council makes it easier for its ratepayers to collect their own water through subsidies for rain water tanks, thereby reducing the water bill and also the demands placed on mains water supply, on wastewater and stormwater systems. In the case of an earthquake, it would also make them more resilient.

It is NOT Greater Wellington policy to have water meters as there is currently no consensus for that. Yes, they do result in conservation, but the large sum of money involved would be better invested for on site storage.

Greater Wellington supplies water to 370,000 people and we use about 400 litres per day per person. Wellington city's annual rainfall is around 1200mm/year and this rises to around 2000mm/year in Wainuiomata. A roof area of 150m2 is capable of capturing an average of nearly 500 litres/day (800 litres in Wainuiomata), which would be about half of average household use. A 4,000 litres fibreglass tank can be purchased for $1,200.

ENDS

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