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Byron Shire
March 29, 2024

Take the 160 Litre Challenge on World Water Day

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Today is world water day and people who have access to good water supplies are being asked to think wisely about how they use it.

It’s the little things that make a big difference and at home you can help save water fairly easily without too much effort.

Yesterday at Rocky Creek Dam, Rous County Council launched their 160 Litre Challenge and school children from the area were invited to plant trees and learn about saving water. As well as putting in dozens of young plants, the children walked through the park looking at the ways water works in nature. They also had the chance to look at a water catchment model, to design flags with water wise messages, and to make very big bubbles with just a little bit of water!

Rous County Council’s 160 Litre Challenge is a water saving campaign designed to combat growing water demand pressures by motivating people to be more mindful of the way they consume water in the household. The plan is that kids will go home and tell their families about ways to save water for the challenge

With ongoing dry weather in many parts of the country residents are urged to consider reducing their water consumption to less than 160 litres of water per person, per day, to delay the need to source alternative water supplies.

As the regional bulk water supply authority, Rous County Council has estimated that water demand is set to exceed the region’s secure yield at Rocky Creek Dam by 2024 unless there are changes to water use.

Breanna from Bexhill School had fun making bubbles. Photo Tree Faerie.

The current average for residential water usage in the Northern Rivers is around 194 litres of water per person every day.

‘Most people are shocked to learn how much water one person consumes in a day,’ says Rous County Council GM, Phillip Rudd. ‘194 litres is a huge volume of water. Multiply that by four for the average household and we are talking almost a thousand litres per dwelling, per day!’

Rudd says that even with heavy rainfall, the longer-term issue of supply and demand still remains. ‘It is essential that we make simple changes to our everyday behaviour now, so that we can protect our precious water resources for the future.’

Simple changes can alter an individual’s water use significantly. For example, a  four minute shower with a water efficient showerhead still consumes 24-36 litres. Turning taps off while brushing teeth and fixing leaks around the house can also save water and money.

One leaking tap alone can waste around 20,000 litres of water per year, costing an estimated $70 on your water bill.

And, the toilet doesn’t need to be flushed every time – if it’s yellow, let it mellow…

Take the 160 Litre Challenge

Rous have introduced a save water and win competition. The 160 Litre Challenge is to come up with innovative ideas on how to use less than 160 litres of water per person per day.

Kids under 18 years old can win double yearly passes to Wet ’n’ Wild by submitting their most creative photo or video on how to reduce water use.

Northern Rivers’ residents can win a water efficient dishwasher or washing machine up to the value of $1500 as the major prize in the competition.

Preschools, schools and community groups can win a rainwater tank, with two tanks on offer for the most innovative water savers.

If you’re up for the 160 Litre Challenge, reduce your water use, prove you’re a water saver, and win.

The 160 Litre Challenge is an initiative by Rous County Council in conjunction with Byron Shire, Ballina Shire, Lismore City and Richmond Valley councils.

More information on how to enter can be found at the Rous County Council website or follow @160LitreChallenge on Instagram for water saving tips.


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2 COMMENTS

  1. Water is so much more plentiful if we had less people. Growth is so detrimental to Australia as this article shows that we have to stop drinking the water. Growth is only for a political measurement for economists in parliament.

  2. Three years ago, the water pipe leading to our house developed a small hole. We lost almost a $1000.00 dollars in water before we discovered that leak. I was told by Council that there are many such leaks in our shire happening at any given time.
    Why dosen’t Rous Water develop a better system for flagging such leaks than leaving it up to the customer to read their own meters between official readings? Time to computerize?

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