Most of my friends and even some business associates know that my wife and I are fairly proactive water conservationists. While we also recycle properly and don't litter, we also like to make sure that we are considerate of the environment.As such, I feel quite strongly about the fact that today's announcement in the news is stating that water restrictions are being lifted now that the dam levels are at just over 61%.
This is such a misconception. Why should water restrictions be lifted at all. The majority of people were conserving water and still enjoying a normal life. It only made people more aware of how much water they waste every day. Some even invested on some newer water saving items like new toilets that have half flush, replaced leaking taps and replaced shower heads as well as garden hose nozzles with trigger nozzles.
So, water restrictions were and are actually a good thing.
What happens when the population hears about the restrictions being lifted? People relax and start using more water, leaving taps on, disregarding leaking faucets and being a bit lax about washing dishes and watering their gardens.
I hope this doesn't happen. I hope that what people have learnt over the last few years will have now become second nature and stick to their usual water usage.
What do you think now that water is back in abundance, according to dam levels for Sydney's water supply?
The Legendary Nortons of Paul Adams
2 days ago
2 comments:
Given the unpredictability of the weather patterns, and that we are literally moving into uncharted territory, i think it's important that water and electricity "efficiency" by design becomes the rule.
Why is it that every house has a shower and bath that uses vast amount of water, and that water can't be treated and used to flush toilets and water gardens? Something as simple as this would create jobs, and more importantly improve our overall quality of life at the same time as saving money in the long run and make it easier to manage the next drought.
I mean, given solar, wind, water and ground thermal energy could be giving us long-term sustainable energy resources. What energy shortage?? It's only because we haven't invested into getting it. But thats the problem with short-range profiteering.
Indeed it is.
People are only interesting in now, careless about tomorrow. With this sort of situation better bathroom design, better utilisation of water is needed.
The other thing I dislike it that there are systems in place to do all this. But their cost is so far out of reach that you always hear "It'll take 25 years before you break even". Solar is a classic example. An installation that would be considered worthy enough to become self sustainable would cost you tens of thousands, if not up to $100,000 to install. Sure you could find used panels or something to trade, but what? You're arm? Your second born?
Watch this space for a new entry that discusses this topic alone.
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