You need to be signed in to add your comment.

Connect 4 - Water Literacy Vs Efficiency and Why Should I Bother?

The Water Corporation runs Waterwise programs that reach over 1.6 million residents in the Perth metropolitan region. This is a key strategy to adapt to the impacts of a drying climate and address pressure on water supplies in the south-west region of Western Australia.

The programs focus on promoting behaviours to save Water Corporation water, also known as scheme water, around the home and garden and at work.They also have education and reward programs for schools, residents, businesses and councils. See the resource list for examples of what the Water Corporation is already doing.

However, Water Efficiency programs aimed at the general community only target how much scheme water is being used. These programs do not target homes with garden bores that use up most of our groundwater. People don't pay for that water and have no restrictions so residential bores can make gardens green and greedy. This means that the bore owners can use as much groundwater as they like whenever they like. That means one day there may not be enogugh water to go around for people, parks, places, animal or bird life that need water too.

These programs don't improve water literacy either. That's why we still find people have a poor understanding about the water cycle and connection to how our lives effect it. As a result not all areas of our communities are adopting water wise behaviours and accepting of sustainable water practices.

We need people of all cultures to understand their impact on the water cycle, respect water’s intrinsic value and feel part of the City’s evolving water story.

Consultation has concluded