WA leading the way with permanent winter sprinkler switch-off

• Join more than 8,000 other Western Australians who have already set a reminder to turn off sprinklers for winter
• Winter Sprinkler Switch-Off has saved about 40 billion litres of water since introduced as a permanent water efficiency measure in 2010

Water Minister Dave Kelly today encouraged people in Perth, Mandurah and parts of the South-West and Great Southern to set a reminder to turn off their sprinklers for when the Winter Sprinkler Switch-Off starts this Saturday (June 1).

The annual Winter Sprinkler Switch-Off is a permanent water efficiency program now in its ninth year and has saved about 40 billion litres of water - enough to fill Optus Stadium 40 times - since its introduction.

The Water Corporation is making it easier for households to remember to turn off your sprinklers, by sending you a reminder on May 30 by text, email, calendar booking or even a Facebook event by registering at http://www.watercorporation.com.au/wintersprinklerswitchoff 

Using sprinklers during the switch-off can result in a $100 fine if witnessed by a Water Corporation Water Efficiency Inspector, or a written warning if reported by a member of the public.

The switch-off applies to both scheme and bore water users, however, hand watering is permitted. In areas of the State not subject to the ban, normal watering rosters and the daytime sprinkler ban still apply.

For details on how the ban applies to licensed water users, visit http://www.water.wa.gov.au

Comments attributed to Water Minister Dave Kelly:

"When we switch off our sprinklers for winter, we collectively save around 46 million litres of precious drinking water every single day. By the end of winter last year that added up to five billion litres of water.

"Those of us who live in the south-west of Western Australia understand climate change is real, as we simply don't get the rainfall into our dams that we used to receive a generation ago.

"Unlike many States in eastern Australia, who are only debating the merits of water restrictions when dams fall to a certain level, the switch-off in WA is permanently in place. After nine years it is now part of our winter routine.

"While we have developed new water sources such as desalination and recycled water, we still source about 40 per cent of Perth's household water from groundwater.

"As climate change continues to reduce rainfall in WA, our groundwater continues to decline. This impacts not only our household water supplies but the health of our wetlands and parks.

"Reducing our water use is still an important part of maintaining a secure and sustainable water supply in response to the impacts of climate change."