By Victoria Stone-Meadows
South East Water is reminding customers to be cautious of their water usage following recent water use data that shows households are wasting water on hot days.
Data from the South East Water trial is collected by data logging technology, attached to the existing water meters of 169 customers.
The project uses information from the technology from households in inner Melbourne and the south-eastern suburbs.
Consumption data is then analysed using flow algorithms to determine which appliances are using water and when.
The data shows that many households in the South East Water service region are watering their garden between 10am and 4pm, when evaporation rates are at their highest.
The trial also showed that watering the garden was the number one use of water around the home with watering accounting for about 27 per cent of water use around the home.
The top stop in previous trials was showering which has slipped to second spot and average shower times sitting at six and a half minutes, compared with the suggested four minutes.
Sharon Robinson, acting customer general manager at South East Water said while a spike in water use during summer was expected, people should still aim to reduce their water use.
“It’s no surprise that customers are using more water in the summer months, but there are some simple steps we can take to reduce water consumption and keep bills down,” she said.
“With a garden hose or sprinkler using as much as 900 litres per hour, watering the garden for 45 minutes each day can double the average domestic bill.”
“An efficient watering system, used at the start or end of the day, can pay big dividends when bills arrive.”
“Showering also provides opportunities for greater water efficiency. By keeping showers to four minutes each a day instead of six, a four-person household can save $150 a year on their bill.”
South East Water has asked customers to be aware of how much water they are using and to try minimising having long showers or watering the garden in the middle of the day.
