Tweed Shire Council has asked local residents to be water wiser after latest figures showed water use had blown out in recent weeks.
The new data shows a 15% water use increase in the past three weeks to 187 litres per person per day – exceeding Council’s target of 160 litres per person daily.
Water and Wastewater Business and Assets acting manager, Elizabeth Seidl the local government area had been doing a great job of meeting local water targets until recently.
“As the weather has warmed, our water use has increased,” Ms Seidl said.
“Target 160 is our water use target when there are no water restrictions and it’s there for good reason.
“Climate change has made rainfall in our region unpredictable and 15,000 more people will call the Tweed home in the coming decades.
“While the planned upgrade of Clarrie Hall Dam will help secure our water supply, we all share responsibility to save water and the environment.
“Meeting Target 160 is the most cost-effective action we can take as a community.”
Council figures showed water use in recent weeks was up 15%, or 25 litres on average per person.
“Each of us only needs to save about 30 litres of water per person a day to get back under the 160-litre target,” Ms Seidl said.
“That means doing a few little things around the house like taking 4-minute showers, going easy with the hose outside, mulching your garden and avoiding watering the lawn.
“If you have a leaky toilet, showerhead or tap, now is the time to get it fixed. These actions can easily bring our water use back to 160 litres per person a day.”
Find out more about the Tweed’s Target 160 campaign at tweed.nsw.gov.au/target-160-litres.
