Water

Saving water is more than just a drop in the ocean when it comes to sustainability. Conserving and protecting one of our most precious resources creates a ripple effect, not only in terms of securing our water supplies but also reducing demand on other resources such as energy used for treating and pumping the water we use and wastewater we produce.

Developing effective water management practices that are sustainable over the long term are essential if we are to minimise our potential impact on climate change and ultimately adapt to living in a hotter, drier future.

At UTS we are committed to water management by reducing and recycling campus water as part of a best practice water management system. To achieve this we aim to reduce overall water consumption by as much as 20% by 2010 based on a 2002 benchmark.

What do we want to achieve?

We aim to implement best practice in water consumption to achieve an efficient and cost effective use of water. To achieve this, we will:

Measure and monitor water use in different parts of the University, determine how water can cost effectively be saved through a combination of technology and behavioural changes, gradually implement a carefully designed water saving plan and regularly measure and report the outcomes.
Use campus e-mail, our website and other communication strategies to motivate all staff and students to increase their water efficiency.
Source materials from building suppliers that promote the use of sustainable water saving practices.
Aim to reduce overall water consumption by as much as 20% by 2010 (from a 2002 benchmark).

How are we performing?

Given the current water crisis in the Sydney Catchment Area, it is vital that as an institution UTS takes action to minimise water usage and consumption. Hence in 2006 UTS participated in a water audit and the NSW Water Savings Action Plan. In addition, through UTS' sustainability projects we are saving 37,000 kilolitres of water (over 30 Olympic swimming pools) every year, despite growth in floor space and student population since 2002. This reduction equates to approximately a 15% reduction in overall water usage.

What are we doing?

Reduction in total water consumption has been achieved the use of:

aerators on taps
3 star rated showerheads
dual-flush toilet cisterns
other water-efficient appliances
mechanically driven vacuum aspiration instead of water-driven vacuum systems in the new Science building
waterless urinals in the new Science building.

UTS's Facilities Management Unit is currently overseeing several additional water-saving initiatives including:

replacing high water-use cooling towers with air-cooled plant serving the air conditioning systems in Building 5
trialling the installation of water meters to monitor water usage and linking this system to a web-based management system converting continuous fill and flush urinals with manual pull flush urinals in Building 3
regular reporting on water savings activities.

What guides this theme?

All high water use customers such as UTS are required by the Director General of the Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) to develop a Water Savings Action Plan. This forms part of the State Government's initiatives to reduce water consumption.

The aims of the plan are to :

Gain upper management acceptance of the process
Analyse water consumption patterns
Provide recommendations on potential water and cost-saving measures which can be justified on a life cycle cost basis.

The Water Savings Action Plan was developed during 2006, this identified a number of areas for action and these were implemented during 2007. Works included: The optimisation of water control in the cooling towers of the central chiller plant in Building 1 and the replacement of existing water seal sewage ejector pumps with a compressed air driven system in Buildings 1 & 2. This Water Savings Action Plan would be updated annually.

Tips to save water

We can all do our bit to reduce water consumption. Here are some simple ideas to use when going about your daily activities at UTS.

Report all leaking taps trickling or leaking toilets or urinals to the Building Services Branch on 9514 7476. Remember, one leaking tap can waste more than 2000 litres a month!
Be observant and also report to the Building Services Branch any other major leaks you see in laboratories or around the campus.
Use the half-flush option when possible on dual-flush toilets.
Dispose of tissues and other such waste in the bin rather than the toilet to avoid unnecessary toilet flushing.
Prevent taps from leaking by turning taps off lightly. Tighten only to the point where water is stopped. Do not over tighten.
Have shorter showers by keeping them under 5 minutes.
Use only as much water as you need in the kettle to cut your electricity costs at the same time.
Rinsing your dishes in a plugged sink or bowl rather than under a running tap saves water and is just as easy and effective.
Think before you pour things down the sink. What you put down the drain can cause blockages and pollute our environment.
Wait until you have a full load in the dishwasher before using it. This saves water and energy, and reduces the amount of detergent entering the sewer system.

For more tips on saving water in the home see http://www.sydneywater.com.au/SavingWater/ (opens an external site)

For the latest information on water restrictions that apply, see
http://www.sydneywater.com.au/SavingWater/WaterRestrictions/ (opens an external site)

Other useful website links
http://www.abc.net.au/water/stories/s1864974.htm (opens an external site)
http://www.savewater.com.au/index.php?sectionid=12 (opens an external site)
http://www.ata.org.au/?page_id=33 (opens an external site)