The rising cost of water consumption in Australia has left many businesses on the hunt for greener alternatives. Fortunately, the latest rainwater harvesting technology offers a glimmer of hope.
But first, just how much water are we using, and how much have prices increased over the years?
Water Consumption is Down – Rates are Up
During 2015-2016, an estimated 76,455 gigalitres (GL) of water was extracted from the environment to support the Australian economy. Of this amount, 10,615 GL was extracted and distributed to industries and households across the country, while a further 5,226 GL was used by the same industry extracting the water, largely the agriculture industry.
With the total consumption of water during 2015-2016 reaching 16,132 GL – 9,604 GL consumed by Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing; 2,014 GL consumed by the Water Supply, Sewerage and Drainage Services industry; an extra 2,615 GL distributed to other industries; and 1,899 GL by households – this level was a decrease of over 7% from 2014-2015.[i]
Despite the fact Australians are using less water – rates continue to soar.
In 2013-2014 alone, household water prices in New South Wales and Victoria saw a staggering increase of 27 percent and 24 percent respectively – paying an average of $3.08 per kilolitre (thousand litres). In 2018, businesses can expect to pay $3.1183 per kilolitre for water usage and $1.8115 per kilolitre for the sewage disposal charge.
Although companies like South East Water have committed to a five year plan to deliver lower costs for consumers,[ii] the difference between bills from 2017-18 is negligible and the long-term effects of the plan remain to be seen. Also, some reports suggest Australia is ill-equipped to meet the growing demands of the 21st century and that prices will continue to surge unless there is major reform.[iii]
In response to these concerns, it makes sense for a business to look elsewhere for cheaper and more eco-friendly alternatives to the mains water. This demand applies to a range of industries from agriculture to forestry, fishing, mining and commercial car washes. All of which need a consistent supply of water to power vital services such as wash bays, dust suppression technology, irrigation facilities, and a range of manufacturing processes.
Benefits of Rainwater Harvesting
Harvesting rainwater is a flexible and cost-efficient way to power all kinds of services without placing stress on the mains water supply. By collecting and treating rainwater from the roof and hardstand area, the water can be stored and used for a variety of onsite applications that require large amounts of water.
Once the water is collected, it travels through a number of filtration stages to remove impurities, which includes separating oil from water. To keep the filtered water fresh and usable for long periods of time, a number of disinfection systems are used such as chlorination, UV and ozone disinfection.
By using this ‘new’ source of water, it enables site operators to reduce the cost of their mains supply and maintain productivity while doing their part for the environment. Unlike conventional water recycling systems – which can be expensive to install and maintain – the infrastructure needed to filter out impurities from rainwater and stormwater, is far less demanding than it is to recycle water that has already been used
Rainwater harvesting systems are highly flexible and can be scaled to meet the exact needs of any site. No matter how big or small the site, the system can be designed to operate above ground or below ground, and the collection tank can be custom built to handle 1,000 to 1,000,000 + litres of stormwater. For businesses that are not permitted to use mains water, or are located in a remote area with a short supply of mains water, rainwater harvesting is an ideal solution.
What is the best way to determine the ideal rainwater system for your business? Meet a certified water treatment expert. They can advise you on the most suitable application based on your site, the current infrastructure you have (rainwater harvest systems can be installed along with wastewater recycling facilities), and your current/future water supply demands.
Article provided by Cleanawater
