Water usage unlikely to reach weekly target due to hot weather (A/Min)

11/11/98

The first real burst of hot weather has alarm bells ringing at the Water Corporation.

Acting Water Resources Minister Paul Omodei said today that it was unlikely the corporation's 10 per cent reduction target on water usage would be met for this week.

Perth, Mandurah and areas serviced by the Goldfields pipeline could face restrictions this summer if consumption does not meet the target.

Mr Omodei said the water supply situation remained serious.

He said this week's target of 4.8 million kilolitres was looking very shaky after the first four days' consumption climbed to 2.8 million kilolitres at an average of 700,000 kilolitres a day.

The past two days have resulted in 24-hour consumption reaching 800,000 kilolitres on both occasions.

Hot weather is expected through to the end of the week, with the Water Corporation predicting the final week's consumption will exceed five million kilolitres on the current consumption pattern.

"If the present consumption rate continues it is particularly disturbing because Perth is experiencing its first hot spell and immediately water usage has shot up," Mr Omodei said.

"We have had a month in which consumers have remained within the targets set and that was a terrific effort, but we have been helped considerably by favourable weather.

"Now, in the first major test, it appears conversation has gone out the window and many people have reverted to old habits. I urge everyone to think again and wind back a little as the dams are still very low at only about 36 per cent full and dropping every day from now on until next winter."

Mr Omodei said the decision to ask the community to reduce consumption by 10 per cent on anticipated usage was a necessary step to protect supplies for the 1999-00 summer, should the 1999 winter follow the dry pattern of the 1998 and 1997 winters.

"It is a significant part of our strategy for the next 12 months; equally as important as the steps the corporation has taken accelerating a $150 million works program to increase available supplies by 2000 by 15 per cent for the Perth integrated system," Mr Omodei said.

"If the target blows out, the consequences later this coming summer could be water restrictions. It's as simple as that."

Mr Omodei again reiterated that the Government and the Water Corporation did not expect the community to change its lifestyle but rather to think about water usage at a particularly difficult time for the system.

"We know that during summer 70 per cent of scheme water is used on lawns and gardens," he said.

"We also know that in many, many cases this could be reduced through simple waterwise practices that would ensure lawns and gardens would remain healthy with much less watering.

"The targets are not onerous and we are convinced they can be achieved through sensible water conservation measures. I ask everyone to give them more of a chance to succeed, because both the Government and the corporation would be irresponsible not to look forward 12 months and factor in a similar winter to 1998."

Media contact: Hugh Ryan 9213 6705