wdrc Guest

During National Water Week 2007 Council conducted a community survey of the residents connected to the Dalby reticulated water supply.

The aim of the survey was to study community attitudes towards water conservation.

Surveying individual behaviours and perceptions to develop a benchmark and to guide future water strategy design decisions was a valuable investment towards achieving a lasting reduction in water consumption.

  Download WaterWise Survey Report

A brief summary of recommendations was developed based on the survey results to guide future strategy development. Some recommendations required further investigation to ascertain viability and effectiveness.

Survey recommendations were as follows;

• Host workshop - WaterWise gardening practices and how to conserve water outside,
• Host Workshop - How to read your water meter and check for leaks,
• Establish Community Focus Group/Community Advisory Group to further evaluate restrictions/exemptions in the community,
• Employ dedicated full-time WaterWise Officer,
• Review Council's use of water - finalise water audit,
• Improve Council's school education program,
• Investigate other/alternative rebate opportunities,
• Yearly review of current rebates to access effectiveness and reach,
• Review and modernise WaterWise brochures,
• Redesign target and consumption reporting methods in Northern Downs News,
• Continue implementing established WaterWise strategies,
• Evaluate requirement for education/promotion of water savings from tap aerators,
• On change of restriction levels encourage Council to follow restriction schedule to allow easier public education and consistency of recognisable community signage,
• Develop strategies to encourage adoption of additional water saving behaviours beyond basics,
• Readdress the issue of cost as the major factor effecting retrofitting decisions - evaluate necessity for public education campaign,
• Improve survey content and distribution method prior to reuse,

The survey results and recommendations will be used to update Councils WaterWise business plan.

It should be noted that all analysis and recommendations focus on strategies to reduce water consumption for resident's connected to Dalby's water supply only.

Post amalgamation Western Downs Regional Council has worked with the regional communities to standardise Customer Service Standards (Utililities Customer Service Survey), rebate schemes, restriction schedules, consumption targets and levels to support water conservation strategies across the entire electorate.