28 July 2008
City West Water is offering households in Melbourne‘s inner suburbs the chance to be involved in a unique program which will provide free water saving advice and help shape future water conservation programs.
More than 100,000 households from across Melbourne and regional Victoria will be invited to participate in the $6 million WaterSmart program, a State Government initiative delivered by City West Water and other Victorian water businesses.
Anne Barker, Managing Director of City West Water said around 4,500 customers from Melbourne’s inner suburbs would be involved in the program, the largest behavioural change study of its kind in Victoria.
“Our customers have done a tremendous job responding to the challenges of drought. The WaterSmart program will help us help our customers by developing and improving our water conservation initiatives,” Ms Barker said.
“The program encourages households to reduce their ongoing water consumption by providing free specialist advice and information tailored to the household’s needs and preferences.”
City West Water will keep in touch with participants over 12 months through a short survey before and after the program and a follow up phone call every 3 months to see how it is going.
Participants will be encouraged to regularly read their own water meter and record their water use over the study period to see how they are tracking against their own water saving goal.
“The program will not only help customers cut their water use, it will provide us with a greater insight into how they use water and how we can help them reduce it,” Ms Barker said
“Properties in the inner suburbs have smaller or no gardens so we are particularly interested to see how people living in higher density housing use and save water.
“It will be valuable to see if these households can make real water savings within the home, rather than in the yard or garden, because they are less affected by water restrictions.” Ms Barker said.
Households in Abbotsford, Carlton, Carlton North, Clifton Hill, Collingwood, Docklands, East Melbourne, Fitzroy, Melbourne CBD, North Melbourne, Parkville, Richmond and West Melbourne interested in participating in the program can contact the WaterSmart team on 9508 6099 or email watersmart@ourwater.vic.gov.au to see if they are eligible.