Water

Case Studies

Read about Council's water saving initiatives.

Freeway Golf Course
Water saving initiatives include installation of a remediation washdown bay and two 45,000L rainwater tanks.

Flow Control Valves
Council has installed water flow control valves at the Ashburton Pool and Recreation Centre, Kew Recreation Centre and Hawthorn Aquatic Centre.

Greywater

Households generate significant quantities of wastewater that may be reused as irrigation water in the garden. Greywater consists of all non-toilet water, which includes water from showers, baths, spas, hand basins, washing machines, laundry troughs and dishwashers.

Greywater for reuse should not contain kitchen sink water as it has a high concentration of contaminants which may contain pathogens that are not readily broken down by soil organisms. Blackwater on the other hand is wastewater that is contaminated by urine and faeces and should not be reused.

If storing and treating greywater a Septic Tank Permit is required, which can be issued through council. Council can only approve septic tanks that meet the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines.

If using greywater through a diversion system that does not store and treat the wastewater no permit is required. Although consent from the local water authority, Yarra Valley Water, needs to be obtained before altering works connected to its system, the diversion system needs to be installed by a licensed plumber, and greywater reuse must not create a public health hazard.

For more information on reuse options for greywater call our Environmental Health Officer on 9278 4705.

To download a copy of Council's guidelines for reusing greywater, see the 'Reuse options for wastewater' link below.

Low water gardening

Maintaining your garden during periods of low rainfall and restricted watering requires the adoption of a range of strategies.

Policy

Council adopted a Water Strategy in July 2004 for its own operations, successfully completing Milestone 3 (Corporate) of the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) Water Campaign.

The Strategy sets out actions to reduce water consumption and improve water quality in local waterways. Council was the third local government in Victoria to reach this milestone and the fifth in Australia.

To download a copy of the Strategy, click on the link below.

Council also has Stormwater Management Plans, which can be viewed via the link below.

Stormwater
City of Boroondara is participating in the Stormwater Agreement jointly managed by Melbourne Water, Environment Protection Authority and Municipal Association of Victoria.

Water Strategy download PDF
Outlines the approach Council will take to reduce its water consumption and lessen the impact of operations on stormwater quality.

Rainwater

Looking to install a rainwater tank? Check Council's installation guidelines for household rain water tanks.

With water now being charged by the litre and the increasing need for water conservation, home owners are frequently requesting if they can install water tanks to collect rainwater from their house.

Information on installation guidelines within the City of Boroondara can be found via the link below.

For further information please contact Building Services on 9278 4861, email boroondara@boroondara.vic.gov.au or visit Camberwell Offices, 8 Inglesby Road, Camberwell during business hours.

Stage 4

Preparing for Stage 4 Water Restrictions

Water Tanks to Save Heritage Gardens and Sports Grounds

An initiative to install water storage tanks at Council’s heritage gardens and premier sports grounds is being undertaken in a bid to preserve these community assets during the State’s worsening drought.

Irrigation with recycled water has already commenced at Read Gardens, Camberwell with another six heritage gardens starting on 2 January, 2007. Tanks have also been installed at three sports grounds: Rathmines Reserve, Gordon Barnard Reserve and Howard Dawson Reserve.

Additional tanks will be installed at 10 sports grounds throughout January as tanks become available.  Of Council’s 40 sports grounds 20 will remain unirrigated. 

Council is transporting A-Class recycled water to these grounds. This water is completely safe to use for these applications. 

The actions are an extension of Council’s water strategy, which was developed in 2004, and is in line with Stage 3 water restrictions that came into effect on 1 January, 2007.

Mayor of Boroondara, Councillor Phillip Healey said some people may be unaware that local parks and gardens were being irrigated using recycled water.

“We are proud that the City of Boroondara is leading metropolitan Melbourne in being both supportive of responsible water restrictions and under our innovative water saving strategy, we are using at least 35 per cent less tap water than the same time last year,” Cr Healey said.

“We are taking these measures to ensure that our priceless heritage gardens thoughtfully created by our forefathers are there for our grandchildren and all future generations. 

“Recycled water for these purposes is readily available, much of it goes out to the sea every day, as long as people keep taking showers and flushing their toilets there will be plenty of it available” said Cr Healey

“We started our water saving works a long time ago.  Other measures we’ve undertaken include a managed reduction of watering of parks, gardens and sporting fields, rationalisation of the number of annual floral displays and introduction of drought tolerant plants and grasses.

“We have also spent many years updating our irrigation systems to achieve improved water efficiency by establishing separate watering systems for turf and gardens and we have also replaced sprinkler heads to achieve a 30 per cent reduction in water usage.”

Council is also using mulch and wetting agents as well as trialling the use of water crystals to retain water in garden beds.

Cr Healey said Council officers had worked diligently for many years to implement a number of water saving actions and create a more sustainable environment.

“Our sports grounds and parks are heavily used each week by some 150 sporting clubs as well as passive recreation park users. Community sport is an activity that brings our communities together. 

By actively keeping sports grounds available our community can continue to participate in recreation thereby providing for healthier outcomes.  We also ensure that the future costs of completely refurbishing these ovals will be avoided. 

A total of 16 rainwater tanks are also installed at Council premises including the Boroondara Sports Complex, Riversdale Depot and Alexandra Gardens in Kew as part of the continued water saving actions.

At the Riversdale Depot, there are four water tanks that have a capacity for 40,000 litres each that collect water from the transfer station and washbay roof. This water is used to wash down all vehicles such as waste trucks in line with health and safety regulations.

“When you see the sprinklers on in our gardens or on our ovals, know that we are using safe, recycled water, maintaining residential amenity and being innovative at the same time,” said Cr Healey

“We look forward to working with the State Government to create innovative responses which recognise both the need for water conservation and the significant contribution made by parks and sporting facilities to community wellbeing.”

Water Campaign

Local governments are major consumers of water for functions such as watering parks and gardens, operation of leisure centres and washing down plant and equipment.

In September 2002, Council made a commitment to participate in the Water Campaign^TM, set up by the International Council for Local Government Initiatives (ICLEI).

It is an innovative program that assists local government to reduce water consumption and improve water quality discharges within their operations, across the municipality and the catchment. This program is based on the achievement of fifteen milestones, five in each of three modules (Council, Community and Catchment). The five milestones are:

1. An assessment of the current state of water quality and quantity consumed.
2. Setting of goals to improve the current situation
3. Adoption of a Strategy/ Action Plan to achieve goals set
4. Implementation of the Action Plan
5. Monitoring and evaluation of the actions being implemented

The City of Boroondara was amongst the first Councils in Australia to achieve Milestone One for both the Council and community sectors. Council is currently undertaking Milestone 4 for Council operations and Milestone 2 and 3 for the community sector.

Local Governments Sustainability Website
International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) - Local Governments for Sustainability website.

Stage 3A Water Restrictions

Stage 3A Water Restrictions Apply from 1 April 2007

Stage 3A water restrictions are in effect from 1 April 2007. Stage 3A is the second phase of Stage 3 water restrictions and is being introduced due to low rainfall over summer and below average stream flows. 

Stage 3A Water Restrictions

• Lawns cannot be watered by residents, businesses and local councils. There are some exempt playing surfaces that can be watered.
• Manual dripper systems can be used between 6am - 8am on your watering days.*
• Hand-held hoses fitted with a trigger nozzle, watering cans and buckets can be used to water gardens between 6am – 8am on your watering days.*

Households with at least one resident aged 70 years or over may water their gardens manually on specified watering days between 6am - 8am or 8am - 10am.

Automatic dripper systems can operate between midnight - 2am on watering days.*

* Even numbered houses can water on Saturday and Tuesday.  Odd numbered can water on Sunday and Wednesday. There is no watering on Monday, Thursday and Friday.

Washing Vehicles
An efficient commercial car wash that uses 70 litres of water or less per vehicle can be used.

A bucket filled from a tap can be used to clean windows, mirrors and lights, and to spot-remove corrosive substances.

Pools and Spas
A new pool or spa of any size capacity cannot be filled with drinking water.  However, a new or existing swimming pool or spa may be filled with an alternative water source such as approved groundwater.

Penalties and Enforcement
Stage 3A water restrictions must be followed and water patrols are out in force across Melbourne. If you are issued with a warning notice and still breach the restrictions, you may have your water supply restricted or face prosecution.

To report a breach, call 13WATER (139 2837)

Exemptions
It is possible to apply for exemptions to Stage 3A water restrictions by identifying the restrictions that you are seeking exemption from and details as to why you think an exemption is needed.

Applications for residents of the City of Boroondara are available on Yarra Valley Water’s website - www.yvw.com.au/yvw/home 

Greywater, Rainwater and Recycled Water
Greywater and recycled water can be used at any time. No restrictions apply to rainwater collected in a storage tank, provided it is not supplemented by the mains water supply.

The City of Boroondara encourages everyone to adhere to these rules and use water wisely. For more information about water restrictions please contact Yarra Valley Water on 131 721 or by visiting the website below.

3A Water Restrictions
A fact sheet from the Victorian Government's Our Water Our Future website on Stage 3A water restrictions.

Guide to Stage 3 Water Restrictions
Read this document for details on how Stage 3 Water Restrictions Apply to you.

Our Water Our Future
Click here to link to the Victorian Government's Our Water Our Future website, which includes information on the Stage 3A restrictions.

Yarra Valley Water
Click here to link to the Yarra Valley Water website.

Melbourne Water
Click here to link to the Melbourne Water website.

Freeway Golf Course
Water saving initiatives include installation of a remediation washdown bay and two 45,000L rainwater tanks.

2007 Consumer Rainwater Guide
This guide is produced by the Australian Rainwater Industry Development Group.

The savewater!® Alliance
The savewater!® Alliance works with member water businesses, government agencies and product companies to deliver water conservation programs throughout Australia.

Watering Mature Trees
A flyer containing information about watering mature trees in the City of Boroondara.

Stormwater

City of Boroondara is participating in the Stormwater Agreement jointly managed by Melbourne Water, Environment Protection Authority and Municipal Association of Victoria.

As part of this agreement, a Stormwater Environmental Management Plan has been produced.

To view the plan, please refer to the links below.

Protecting Stormwater Quality
Information brochure on protecting stormwater quality from building and construction sites.

Stormwater Environmental Management Plan Vol 1
Executive summary of the Stormwater Environmental Management Plan.

Stormwater Environmental Management Plan Vol 2
Background information for the Stormwater Environmental Management Plan.