New Goldfields regional communities announced for Waterwise program

• Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Wiluna households invited to participate in the 2019-20 Waterwise Towns Program
• In 2018-19, the program saved more than 150 million litres of water
• Climate change continues to reduce rainfall in the region

Water Minister Dave Kelly is encouraging residents in two Goldfields regional communities to save precious water by taking advantage of the State Government's Waterwise Towns Program.

 

Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Wiluna households are able to access water saving offers from the Water Corporation through the program.

 

Water saving offers are suited to local conditions with Kalgoorlie-Boulder residents invited to take advantage of free showerhead swaps and comparative water use letters.

 

Wiluna households can participate in the free showerhead swap and plumbing retrofit programs.

 

Up to two old showerheads can be replaced at no cost with water-efficient ones by taking the old showerheads and a copy of a recent Water Corporation bill to selected locations in each community.

 

Other areas selected in the 2019-20 Waterwise Towns program include Port Hedland, South Hedland, Karratha, Halls Creek, Dongara, Port Denison, Peppermint Grove Beach, Yallingup, Cowaramup, Margaret River, Walpole and Denmark.

 

Offers through the Waterwise Towns Program are available from October 1,2019 to May 31, 2020 or until showerhead stocks last.

 

The dramatic impact of climate change saw Western Australia experience its driest August since 2014 with below average rainfall expected for the remainder of this year and early into next year.

 

Due to declining rainfall, communities connected to the Goldfields Pipeline no longer receive drinking water from streamflow into dams, but from climate independent sources such as desalination.

 

Last year, Laverton, Leonora, Menzies and Norseman households participated in the program helping save 18 million litres of water - this is equivalent to eight Olympic sized swimming pools.

 

For more details and to see what offers are available in your community, visit

https://www.watercorporation.com.au/waterwiseoffers

 

Comments attributed to Water Minister Dave Kelly:

 

"I encourage households in these Goldfields communities to take advantage of this great initiative and help save precious water as climate change continues to be one of the biggest challenges we face.

 

"Small changes can make a big difference. The simple act of swapping to a water-efficient showerhead can help save you about 20,000 litres of water a year.

 

"Communities participating in last year's Waterwise Towns Program together helped save an impressive 150 million litres of water or about 67 Olympic size swimming pools.

 

"I am confident with everyone's help we can achieve the same great results this year."

 

Comments attributed to Mining and Pastoral Region MLC Kyle McGinn:

 

"We can all contribute our little bit to protecting our precious environment for future generations. A simple thing like switching out your shower head can end up making a big difference when we all get together and do our bit.

 

"I would encourage residents in Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Wiluna to take part in this program and take that further by encouraging their neighbours to do the same. It's also a great opportunity to teach young kids about water-wise practices in the family home.

 

"If residents require further details on what is happening locally with this program they are welcome to come into my office in the Kalgoorlie CBD and enquire about it."