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| Top 10 questions |  |
 3TD – Q&A: Ten Top Questions.1. A tap is not a new invention. Everyone knows that turning the tap down reduces water consumption. What is new about the 3TD project?
Using less water means changing habits. Nobody likes abrupt changes that are forced upon them, however if we are in control, and make the changes that we want, and change is gradual, we find it easier to accept. If change is voluntary and gradually introduced over time, we can adjust our life to suit the change without much effort. Similarly, the 3TD approach represents a convenient way to phase-in lower daily water consumption. Turn the stop-tap down half a turn a week until you reach the lowest flow-level that still satisfies your needs – a convenient way to save water and money.
2. Will low flow-rates damage my dish washer or clothes washing machines?
The Victorian Government's Plumbing Industry Commission has recommended flow-rates for dish washing machines of 3.4 litres per minute and clothes washing machines of 8 litres per minute (see - http://www.pic.vic.gov.au/resources/documents/Water_Conservation.pdf ). If you wish to use flow-rates less than these I recommend that you seek the manufacturer's advice for your appliance.
3. Our major cities have already reduced their water consumption. Can we use less and still have a good quality of life?
Yes. According to the Government of Victoria's 2006 "Water Supply-Demand Strategy", many cities around the world use far less water per person than Melbourne. For example, Northern European households use a total of 125 litres per person per day compared with the 157 litres per day used by each Melbourne resident on indoor uses and a total daily average use of 208 litres per day. In Brisbane, residents are exceeding their goal of reducing personal water consumption to under 140 litres per day on a regular basis. See their web site home page http://www.qwc.qld.gov.au/ . If Northern Europeans can live on 125 litres with out trying to save water, what could we do if we tried? The 3TD project will help provide some answers.
4. Can my garden survive with low water flows?
Highly water efficient irrigation devices will still function with low water flows (drippers, etc.) High volume sprinklers will not function effectively. But the goal is to reduce water consumption by using water more wisely and efficiently. Gardens are a major consumer of water, but with the right attitude and the right plants in our gardens we can still create garden cities and enjoy a quality of life superior to any in the world. Gardeners have a vital role to play in water conservation. Practical experimenting in your own garden is a valuable contribution to building up a stock of good ideas and advice about plant varieties and useful tips for water-wise gardening.
5. Why would the 3TD project help people to save water?
If you are spending too much money, cutting up the credit card can be a great first step. Turning the tap down has a similar effect – that is why the Queensland Water Commission places a compulsory water restrictor of 10 litres per minute on households that repeatedly breach water restrictions – and keep the restrictor in place for a month! They know that reduced flow helps even the most careless people save water.
6. The Government spends millions of dollars subsidizing water saving projects. 3TD costs nothing and is a sure way of reducing water waste. Why don't they support 3TD?
Good question. Ask your local political representatives and water utility.
7. Why don't our water retail companies use flow restriction?
They do. Water retailers in most states use flow restriction for debt collection purposes. For example, in Victoria, thousands of households have had their water restricted to a flow of less than 3 litres per minute - until the residents make arrangements to pay their bill! Only Queensland uses compulsory flow restrictors to re-educate water-wasters, fixing their water supply at 10 litres per minute and locking that level in place for a month. Other states seldom or never use water restrictors for water conservation purposes. Many water retailers have turned down the stop-tap and locked it off to force customers to pay debts, but 3TD is a voluntary use of the stop-tap for water saving!
8. Is it safe to reduce water-flow to very low levels? Do water utilities/retailers warn their customers of possible dangers associated with low flows?
For debt collection purposes, water retailers generally set flow-rates at 3 litres per minute or less.
Most do not issue a specific written or verbal warning about harmful effects, although Western Australia's Water Corporation does issue this notice:
Important: Before operating any water appliance.
The water supply to this property has had the flow-rate at the meter restricted to approximately 2.3 litre/minute. It is therefore important that you check with the relevant manufacturer to ascertain the minimum flow-rate required before operating or using any appliance requiring water.
Queensland utilities also issue a cautionary notice when they apply restrictors, though most appliances should function with water flows of 10 litres per minute. The 3TD project will issue a similar caution to householders contemplating a voluntary flow reduction.
Restricting water flow using the meter stop tap has been a safe and effective way of collecting debt. Why not use the same approach as a voluntary method to save water?
This is the question I asked myself when noting that our family's low flow water supply had helped drop our water use by over half without any inconvenience. 3TD is not about compulsory restrictions or punishment; it is about finding out what flow-levels water-users find satisfactory.
9. Will low water-flows force people to have longer showers?
No. This is an old myth. With AAA shower heads – which most water authorities supply to households – you can have a good shower with a water flow of 7 litres per minute. All new homes in Victoria are fitted with AAA shower heads that supply a maximum of 9 litres per minute. So with a AAA shower you can reduce your stop-tap to 9 litres per minute without effecting the quality of your shower. In addition, the low water flow saves on heating, thereby reducing green house gas output and cutting your heating bill. You will discover, however, that with very low flows that it may not be possible to use more than one appliance at a time. One of the goals of the 3TD research is to find out if this is a significant inconvenience for users.
10. Don't existing water saving programs do all that 3TD aims to achieve?
3TD complements existing water saving strategies. Water conservation is primarily a behaviour change issue. The use of water in the garden and house reflect cultural attitudes and social norms. People in very dry continents have traditionally been very careful with water; however Australians have traditionally adopted attitudes that reflect English rather than Australian climatic conditions.
In a dry continent, becoming more conservative with water makes good ecological and financial sense. The largest water saving that urban Australian's can make is in their gardens. The second largest drain on household water is the shower. In both cases water saving means change: no more verdant green summer gardens; no more luxuriating under Niagara Falls type showers. Some pain is involved: it is like stopping smoking or giving up high-fat food.
The 3TD campaign is analogous to a public health campaign: a mechanical water saving device is akin to a new kitchen implement for healthy food preparation, or an exercise machine; both are only an aid to the goal, but can be a focus for a change in life-style. The action of gradually turning down the stop-tap could provide such a focus, and make the change less painful. It is a simple, cost-free measure, available to all, and it has real, observable effects. It could be the first step in a major life-style change.
Next: History of the 3TD water saver project |
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