New desalination plant for WA will come at a high price
Greywater and rainwater systems are smart water saving technologies.
Friday 26 June
The Western Australian government is committing generations of households to high water bills by choosing expensive, energy intensive and environmentally unsustainable solutions to the state’s water woes, says Australia’s leading sustainable living organisation, the Alternative Technology Association (ATA).
The approval of a second desalination plant for WA, at Binningup, raises grave concerns over the economic and environmental costs of desalination, says Anjali Brown, Water Policy Manager for the ATA.
“West Australians are purchasing expensive drinking water to flush the toilet because the state government has chosen to ignore the multitude of smart water saving solutions that save money, are easy to install and are environmentally sustainable.”
“ATA’s Greywater Research Project found that reusing greywater in gardens and toilets can reduce drinking water consumption by 33 per cent.”
“That’s 33 per cent less precious drinking water being used for purposes that don’t require drinking water, and it is 33 per cent off your water bill every year,” says Ms Brown.
Ms Brown says a ‘Fit for Purpose’ water strategy that matches the appropriate water source to the appropriate water need would enable WA households to have a secure drinking supply, and save money in the face of rising water prices.
ATA argues that desalination plants increase water bills unnecessarily and tax payers money would be better spent on smart water technologies.
“Just by using smart water saving technologies, like rainwater tanks and greywater recycling, some of our members have reduced their mains water use by 96 per cent.”
“West Australians don’t need to pay for drinking water to flush toilets. With smart water systems that use water in the right place for the right purpose, we can supply our water needs at lower long-term economic and environmental costs.”
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Media enquiries: Bojun Chiswell – T (03) 9631 5409 E bojun.chiswell@ata.org.au
