By TANIA PHILLIPS
Pic:THE Coolangatta Tweed Golf Club was one of Top 20 water users who benefitted from the program, implementing a number of water saving initiatives. Maintenance manager Mark Wishart is pictured checking out some of the water savings measures.
WATER savings totalling more than 30 million litres per year have been achieved by two council programs aimed at helping Tweed businesses cut their consumption.
The Tweed’s Top 20 program recently concluded after fostering more efficient water use practices among the biggest non-residential users of the shire’s water.
Over the past 18 months, the council has worked in partnership with organisations such as clubs, holiday parks, shopping centres, hospital and aged care facilities, providing financial assistance and other support.
“These organisations have finished their projects and it’s estimated the total water savings will be 30 million litres per year,” council demand management program leader Elizabeth Seidl said.
“That’s the equivalent of 15 Olympic swimming pools every year.
“That represents substantial savings for businesses in their operating cost, as well as the other benefits associated with reduced water consumption. We congratulate the participating businesses for the savings they achieved and thank them for getting involved.”
The council is now working to build upon those savings through the Top 100 program, offering free water assessments, support, promotion opportunities and financial assistance to other major non-residential water users.
“Nine businesses have completed projects through the Top 100 initiative and another 20 or so are underway,” Ms Seidl said.
“So far, that has brought an additional saving of about five million litres per year.
“Not to be outdone, audits of the council’s own Top 20 water using properties and sites have recently been completed and water savings of approximately 10.5 million litres per year have been identified for implementation over the next two years.”
