There is nothing more satisfying than finding a simple solution to several challenges. Hobart City Council has done just this. A clever plan to install a stormwater tank at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens will save fresh drinking water and also prevent pollutants from entering the Derwent River estuary.
By successfully applying for an Australian Government Community Water Grant, Council has been able to install a huge underground water tank to collect stormwater from the roof of the Botanical Gardens Visitors Centre. This water will then be redirected to flush the nearby public toilets, preventing significant amounts of fresh drinking water from going down the drain. Dual flush cisterns and waterless urinals will also be installed in the toilet block, to ensure the rainwater that is collected is used efficiently.
Stormwater runoff across polluted catchments carries contaminants into the River Derwent estuary, so the rainwater used in the Botanical Gardens toilets will reduce potential contamination of the estuary nearby.
Altogether, this water saving and reuse project will save about 196,000 litres of water every year. An information panel will be installed near the toilet block to explain to the public the aims of the project, and show how much water is being saved.
The Hobart City Council received $49,740 from the $200 million Community Water Grants scheme for this simple yet effective water saving solution. This five year initiative encourages local councils and community groups to think about how they can improve water efficiency and quality in their area.
Grants of up to $50,000 are available to organisations, such as Local Government, schools, sporting clubs and other community associations, for practical projects that meet local needs and focus on water saving, water recycling, and water treatment. Applications for the second round of Community Water Grants are now being assessed. You can check on successful projects or register for the next funding round by visiting www.communitywatergrants.gov.au/
