Tweed’s water-saving rebate program has proven so effective in cutting household water use that it’s being extended for another year.
Under the rebate program, Tweed Shire Council will refund 50 per cent of the total purchase and installation cost for eligible products such as water-saving shower heads, basin and sink spouts, mixers, aerators and flow-control valves.
Council general manager David Keenan said the program had already proven its value.
‘Over the past year, 459 households have taken advantage of the water-saving refund at a total cost of about $24,000 to council,’ Mr Keenan said.
‘A total of 200 showers, 129 spouts/mixers and 559 aerators have been installed in these homes and the estimated total water saving based on these figures is about 3.2 million litres per year.
‘This is equivalent to the average annual water use of about 16 households, so it is a significant water saving achieved just by installing the basic water-efficient devices in these participating homes.’
The program will also be expanded in August to include the installation of approved new dual-flush toilets.
Replacing a single-flush toilet that uses an average of 11 litres of water per flush with a new dual flush toilet that uses 3 litres per half flush and 4.5 litres per full flush has the potential to save the average household about 40,000 litres of water per year.
Similar refunds for other water saving products such as rainwater tanks, washing machines, dishwashers, swimming-pool covers and water-efficient garden products are also being explored.
Applicants are advised to check with council before installation to ensure products qualify for the rebate and to save all receipts for submission.
For more information visit www.tweed.nsw.gov.au.
