World Water Day on 22 March was an occasion for Councils to highlight their achievements. Declared by the United Nations, World Water Day began in 1993 as an international day to highlight the need for water conservation.
Australian Local Government Association President, Councillor Paul Bell, praised the work of Local Governments in this area.
“Through their own activities and by working with their communities, Councils are making commitments and taking practical action to sustainably manage our precious water resources,” he said.
Ipswich City Council in Queensland used World Water Day to remind its residents to continue with their water saving practices.
Ipswich City Councillor, David Pahlke, said water conservation has always been an important environmental issue, but drought conditions in recent years have given it a much sharper focus.
“While the rain we’ve had in recent months has been terrific, we are not out of the woods yet and water restrictions are still necessary to ensure water consumption levels do not skyrocket,” Councillor Pahlke said.
Councillor Pahlke said the drought conditions experienced in recent years have reminded people of the precious nature of water and that it is a resource not to be wasted.
“In the past we were probably all a little too complacent and not as careful as we should be about the water we used,” he said. “That is no longer the attitude of most people and we want to ensure that those days never return.”
Councillor Pahlke said Australia is the driest continent on earth and it is now widely recognised that the effects of climate change are a reality.
“It is predicted that our nation will only become drier and hotter, meaning longer and more intense periods of drought placing great strain on our existing water resources and the way we use and think about water in general,” he said. “In order to preserve our way of life and ensure precious water resources for generations to come, it is up to us to make conserving water part of our daily lives.”
In Western Australia, seven metropolitan Councils have joined together to address issues of water quality in their region. They used World Water Day to provide an information session on their Total Water Cycle Monitoring Project, which investigates water quality and the effectiveness of management interventions.
The seven Councils involved in the projects are the Western Suburbs Regional Organisation of Councils (WESROC) and the Town of Cambridge. WESROC comprises the Cities of Subiaco and Nedlands, the Towns of Claremont, Cottesloe and Mosman Park and the Shire of Peppermint Grove.
Initiatives resulting from the project include regular street sweeping to reduce debris in storm drain systems and a campaign to lower phosphate content in stormwater and groundwater.
Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA) President, Councillor Bill Mitchell, highlighted the importance of collaboration to the success of the project.
“This cooperative approach to issues of common concern is exactly what we see as the future of Local Government,” Councillor Mitchell said. “Waterways and drains don’t always follow political boundaries, so it makes sense to approach water quality management from a regional perspective. This is a perfect example of the way in which a regional model for Local Government might be able to succeed. Member Councils gather data and establish priorities on a regional basis, with resulting actions being taken on a regional and local level.”
After two years of comprehensive research monitoring the quality of and relationship between stormwater, groundwater and receiving environment water, the project raised a number of issues. These are currently being addressed by participating Local Governments at a regional level and through the development of local action plans.
As part of World Water Day, the Councils presented a summary of the project, including a discussion on water sensitive urban design and a tour of ‘water hotspots’ around the western suburbs.
For more information on the UN’s water initiatives and World Water Day visit www.worldwaterday.org
