Yarra Valley Water is working with businesses to cut operating costs and improve water efficiency through the Victorian Government’s WaterSmart program, which saved 70 million litres of water and $366,000 in bills last financial year.
The WaterSmart program is funded by the Victorian Government and delivered by Victoria’s water corporations. It equips businesses with digital water monitoring, audits and practical insights to improve water use and identify leaks.
Yarra Valley Water Managing Director Natalie Foeng said the program played a crucial role in saving water.
“Melbourne’s storages have dropped by more than 13 per cent in the past 12 months, due to drier conditions, so every litre we save matters,” she said.
“WaterSmart gives businesses the tools and visibility to make practical changes that will have a lasting impact. Small adjustments can deliver big results, and it’s encouraging to see so many organisations taking action.”
Ford is among the 170 businesses Yarra Valley Water has supported through the program.
Ford Australia Environmental Facility Compliance Supervisor Steve Verescuk said WaterSmart enabled the company to identify water saving opportunities.
“As a business, reducing our environmental impact is important, and this program has greatly supported that effort,” he said.
“The data loggers installed through the program allow us to monitor our water usage in real time. They’ve already enabled us to detect and repair a couple of leaks, saving a substantial amount of water.”
Councillor Childs, of the Yarra Ranges Council said the council has also been able to save water through the program.
“Our staff have had great success with the WaterSmart Program. The program allows us to remotely monitor water usage at key sites, which in turn helps us to identify leaks and issues,” Mayor Childs said.
“Given the increasingly hot and dry conditions associated with climate change, conserving water is more critical than ever – particularly in high-use community spaces,” he said.
“We’ve had several examples where the data and leak alerts from digital monitoring have helped us address leaks, saving significant amounts of water and money.”
More information about WaterSmart and how to sign-up can be found at: www.yvw.com.au/watersmart-program-ends-
