Households across Perth and Peel are being encouraged to take free waterwise irrigation offers this Spring to help save valuable water and reduce bills.
Available to Water Corporation customers in the metropolitan area, the offers include a free garden irrigation check by an endorsed waterwise irrigator and a rebate towards the installation of a weather-based irrigation controller.
According to the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, up to 40 per cent of domestic scheme water was used outdoors and installing a weather-based irrigation controller was an easy way for households to save water and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
Through the Weather-based Irrigation Controller Rebate, Water Corporation will provide up to $300 towards a new weather-based irrigation controller, including set up and installation by a waterwise service provider.
In addition, 2,000 free visits from waterwise-certified irrigators are available to help ensure scheme and bore reticulation systems are operating efficiently in the lead up to summer.
Minister for Water, Simone McGurk said the offers come at a perfect time for bore users, with penalties now in effect for anyone breaching the revised two-day-a-week watering rosters.
“All the signs point to it being a very hot summer, so now really is the time to ensure our homes and backyards are as waterwise as possible,” Ms McGurk said.
“These annual offers from Water Corporation are a great opportunity for households to not only reduce their bills, but also help conserve water which we know is one of WA’s most valuable resources,” she said.
“It’s no secret that climate change has had a dramatic impact on rainfall across southern WA, but by making smarter choices around the home we can still enjoy healthy, waterwise gardens.”
She said small changes to water-use behaviours made a huge collective difference!
“So I encourage households to get on board with these free offers and get their gardens ready for summer,” the Minister said.
She said the weather-based irrigation controllers detect rain and automatically adjust sprinklers to prevent over-watering.
A trial at 60 Perth homes found average water use reduced by around 15 per cent annually, the equivalent to about two backyard swimming pools of water, she said
More than 3,500 households claimed a waterwise offer last year, with over 4,000 sprinklers replaced and 326 leaks repaired. It helped save 33 million litres of valuable drinking water – equivalent to nearly 15 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Offers are available until 31 May 2024 or until allocation is exhausted. Offers for regional Water Corporation customers will be announced next month as part of the Waterwise Towns program.
More information about the Weather-based Irrigation Controller Rebate and the Spring Irrigation Check can be accessed at this PS News link.
