New regional communities in the South-West announced for Waterwise program

• Peppermint Grove Beach, Yallingup, Cowaramup and Margaret River 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 four South-West regional communities to save precious water by taking advantage of Water Corporation's Waterwise Towns Program.

 

Peppermint Grove Beach, Yallingup, Cowaramup and Margaret River households are able to access water saving offers from the Water Corporation through the program.

 

Water saving offers are suited to local conditions with Peppermint Grove Beach, Yallingup and Cowaramup households invited to take advantage of free showerhead swaps, comparative water use letters, an irrigation system check, plumbing retrofits and a rainwater tank rebate. Margaret River households can participate in the free showerhead swap and rainwater tank rebate 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, Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Wiluna, Dongara, Port Denison, Walpole and Denmark.

 

Offers through the Waterwise Towns Program are available from October 1, 2019 to May 31, 2020 or until showerhead stocks last, and rainwater tank program funds have been expended.

 

The impact of climate change is particularly strong in southwest Western Australia with April to October rainfall decreasing, and May to July rainfall declining by around 20 per cent since 1970.

 

Capel households participated in the 2017-18 Waterwise Towns Program helping save 12 million litres of water - the equivalent of more than five Olympic sized swimming pools.

 

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

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

 

Comments attributed to Water Minister Dave Kelly:

 

"I encourage households in these South-West 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 South West Region MLC Dr Sally Talbot:

 

"In the South West we see the effects of our drying climate every day and most of us want to do whatever we can to mitigate the effects and prepare for the future.

 

"The Waterwise Towns Program provides everyone in these South West communities with the opportunity to help our environment.

 

"Providing easy, practical and cost-effective solutions to reducing household water usage has already proven to be a successful approach and one I am sure we will all embrace."