Water usage is slashed

HILLS water savers have been given a pat on the back by Yarra Valley Water, with April water savings of 25 per cent exceeding all expectations.
YVW managing director Tony Kelly last week announced that the savings made under Stage 3A restrictions smashed even the 14 per cent saving target that would have been set for Stage 4 restrictions.
“Our customers have responded brilliantly to Stage 3A restrictions, achieving larger savings earlier,” Mr Kelly said. “By going onto tougher restrictions earlier instead of waiting for the Stage 4 trigger level we have effectively saved 4.5 billion litres of water.”
YVW says that water consumption in its area during April was 13 per cent lower than the same time last year – despite higher temperatures and lower rainfall.
For Mr Kelly, the figures were validation of YVW’s move to implement Stage 3A before resorting to Stage 4 restrictions.
He said that implementing Stage 4 restrictions – which prohibit all outside watering – would have posed a threat to community assets and jobs in a number of industries.
While YVW is anticipating that outdoor water use will be minimal in the coming months, Stage 3A restrictions are set to remain until 1 August. Mr Kelly said that the situation will then be reviewed in the context of any winter rains Melbourne receives.