Five billion reasons for us all to reduce our water use this spring

• Perth's water use target blows out by five billion litres
• Western Australia is one of the places on the planet most impacted from reduced rainfall due to climate change
• Take the pledge to implement five simple steps to reduce water this spring
• WA landmarks to be lit up in blue this week for National Water Week (October 21-27, 2018)  

Perth households are being asked to pledge to reduce their water use this spring, with Perth guzzling five billion litres more water than forecast for the period between July to October.   

The average daily water use last week was 703 million litres, which was well above the forecast of 681 million litres. Since July 1, 2018 we have used 68 billion litres of water. This is about five billion litres - enough to fill up Optus Stadium five times - above what the Water Corporation had forecast for this period.

The high water use is concerning despite a relatively wet winter, as climate change continues to have a profound impact on water resources in the south-west of Western Australia.

Climate change has reduced rainfall in the south-west of WA significantly, with about 80 per cent less water running into Perth dams than there was 40 years ago. 

As a result, almost half of Perth's water is now manufactured through seawater desalination and groundwater replenishment - sources independent of rainfall. The rest of Perth's water supply comes from groundwater, with just a small percentage from rainfall in our dams.

Finding ways to save water will defer the need for a new water source into the future. This week, Perth residents are being asked to pledge to implement five simple things to reduce their household water use this spring. This includes:

1. Choose waterwise plants for your garden - in Perth more than 40 per cent of household water is used outside the home;
2. Swap to a water efficient showerhead and save up to 20,000 litres of water each year;
3. Do not use the dishwasher until its full - a WELS 4-star dishwasher uses about 15 litres of water compared to a standard 22-litre capacity kitchen sink;
4. Check your home for water leaks - it is estimated up to 700 million buckets of water are lost through household leaks in Perth each year; and
5. Brush your teeth with the tap off - a running tap wastes up to 10 litres of water per minute. 

To mark National Water Week, landmarks across Western Australia will today be lit up in blue, including Optus Stadium, Matagarup Bridge, the Bell Tower, Trafalgar Bridge in East Perth and the Broome water tank.

Comments attributed to Water Minister Dave Kelly:

"This spring we have five billion reasons to make some small changes around the home to save precious water.

"Climate change means every drop of water is precious and so I encourage everyone to take the pledge.

"If we all do our bit at home and in the garden, we can save billions of litres of water each year and defer an expensive new climate-independent water source.

"If we all do our bit we can ensure we have 'Water for me, Water for all in Western Australia'."