Waitakere City leads new initiative
04 October 2007
Waitakere City leads new initiative to achieve water savings
Waitakere City is actively working with suppliers of water-effficient products to assist ratepayers to reduce water demand in the city.
During October and November the Council, in conjunction with Caroma Industries and Chesters Plumbing & Bathroom, are providing special discounted prices on Smartflush second-generation dual flush toilets. The purpose is to encourage ratepayers to upgrade from their old water-wasteful single flush or older dualflush toilets to newest technology toilets which can save households up to 35,000 litres each year. Older style toilets use up to 11 litres per flush whereas the new toilets on offer use only 4.5 litres for a full flush and 3 litres for reduced flush. That's a significant saving on water supply.
Waitakere City Council, has a goal to reduce mains water demand by 25% by 2025. A series of social marketing campaigns have been planned to assist residents wanting to purchase appliances and devices which use less water to find information and a choice of suppliers. Information on current offers is being sent to ratepayers with their water rates.
Those who purchase during the toilet promotional period will go into a prize draw to win one of three new toilets and a refund of their installation costs or one of 10 refunds on toilet installation only. Consumer incentives to save water are a new initiative to stave off the looming increases for bulk water and future infrastructure costs such as new dams.
The water-saving goals are very achievable if a good proportion of residents make even small changes to daily water-use behaviours such as installing water-efficient toilets and washing machines, low-flow shower heads and tapware, raintanks and rainbarrels. Council is also looking at various packages which would give our residents options on what WaterWise steps they'd like to take in future which would fit in with their budgets.
Information on these pilot promotional campaigns and ways to save water can be obtained by calling the call centre on 839 0400.
ENDS