NSW govt pushes for waterless urinals

October 18, 2006 - 12:04PM, AAP

Heavy water users need to follow the lead of households and use new technology such as waterless urinals to cut their consumption, the NSW government says.

The government opened a third round of grant applications to the $130 million Water Savings Fund, which includes $10 million for large water users, such as office towers, schools, councils, sports facilities and industry.

This group consumes around 30 per cent of Sydney's water but has failed to match the recent downward trend in private use.

"From the community's perspective, households account for about 70 per cent of Sydney's water use and they're using less water now than 30 years ago," Minister for Water Utilities David Campbell said.

"They have an expectation that they're doing the right thing at home, so they want to see the major corporates and industry looking to do the right thing in terms of water conservation as well."

Installing waterless urinals in large office blocks can save significant amounts of water, while city hotels should be installing electronic taps and water-efficient shower heads, he said.

Mr Campbell said while government subsidies would help reduce the cost of adopting water-saving technologies, they would also pay for themselves over time.

"If you don't waste it and you don't use it where it's not needed, you'll have the dual effect of saving water and saving money," Mr Campbell said.

Mr Campbell attended the launch of a new company offering water conservation advice and products to heavy users.

Private sector know-how combined with technology had a role to play in helping this kind of user cut consumption, he said.

"(The private sector) can give sound advice to a high water user that will get a return on the investment, that will save them money on their water bills as they save the water," Mr Campbell said.

AAP