South Australian councils will save almost 3 billion litres of water each year – about 1200 Olympic-sized swimming pools – by rolling out nine water-saving projects.

Federal Minister for Water Senator Penny Wong today announced eight regional councils and the Local Government Association of South Australia would share in $19.2 million in Federal Government funding to implement the projects.

Senator Wong said the projects would strengthen the future water security of local communities by easing demand on drinking water supplies.

Projects will help communities diversify their water supplies, reduce reliance on rainfall, and use water more wisely.

The measures include:

• using less potable water for commercial purposes by introducing stormwater harvesting and wastewater reuse schemes in Port Augusta and Port Pirie;
• using recycled water to water open community spaces such as sporting fields and parks;
• installing more efficient irrigation systems, and;
• a statewide initiative for 29 sub-projects that will help 18 South Australian councils diversify their future water supplies and improve their capacity to better manage current water resources.

Senator Wong congratulated the councils for their initiative in finding ways to help their local communities use water more wisely.

"Changing population patterns and the emerging effects of climate change mean urban water supplies in our cities and towns are under increasing pressure," Senator Wong said.

"So it's essential we support local communities as they tackle the challenge of a future with less water.

"We need to look at new ways of diversifying South Australia’s water supplies and reducing reliance on the River Murray.

"That's why the Rudd Government has committed over $530 million in South Australia for stormwater harvesting and reuse, desalination and water recycling projects."

Funding for the projects has been provided under the National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns program, a key component of the Federal Government's comprehensive, long-term Water for the Future initiative.

A list of all successful applicants in South Australia is below.

For more information on Water for the Future visit www.environment.gov.au/water

 

Successful South Australian applicants under the National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns program

Proponent	Project title	Funding ($)
Port Pirie Regional Council	Port Pirie community water reuse project	$2,500,000
District Council of Ceduna	Water proofing Ceduna project	$740,000
Berri Barmera Council	Berri Barmera Council drip irrigation installation project	$1,084,526
Naracoorte Lucindale Council	Naracoorte Regional Livestock Exchange reclaimed water reuse project	$1,850,000
Local Government Association of South Australia	State-wide Cities and Towns project	$7,169,150
Port Augusta City Council	Port Augusta urban stormwater reuse scheme project	$2,128,100
City of Port Lincoln	Port Lincoln – Securing the potable water supply through water reuse project	$500,000
Light Regional Council	Light Regional Council ‘Fit for purpose’ supplementary water supply schemes for the towns of Freeling and Kapunda project	$975,394
Corporation of the City of Whyalla	City of Whyalla urban stormwater harvesting and reuse project	$2,271,340
TOTAL		$19,218,510