A number of groups in the Byron Shire have been working our way each month through topics set for us as part of OzGreen and Resilient Byron’s ‘Resilient Byron Communities program’, funded by NRCF. Last month we discussed water resilience and what we as individuals and as a community can do to reduce our impact on this valuable resource.
Both Rous County Council (RCC), who are responsible for the bulk supply in the Northern Rivers, and Byron Shire Council, who carry out town reticulations, have extensive pages on their websites regarding responsible water usage. Both sites have interactive pages where you are able to calculate your home usage set against community averages and reduction targets to aim for. Both sites recommend changing usage patterns such as taking shorter showers, as well as ideas for saving water outdoors, and how to access rebate programs for residential water tanks.
RCC also discusses the challenges for providing water security technically, financially and environmentally, for both the short term and long term, on behalf of all of us.
Another important resource is the ‘All Options on the Table’ report by the Water Services Association of Australia.
As this part of the world continues to absorb more and more people into our beautiful region, the pressure grows to provide all the same services these people have come to expect, and a reliable and secure water supply is one of those services.
We would urge all readers to take a look at either council’s website and review their own water usage. By following the advice recommended we all have an opportunity to reduce the impact on our precious water resources, and possibly we can save money as well.