How bad was the drought?
In Queensland, the 2001-present drought was bad enough for local government councils to place restrictions depending on the level of water supply. Level 1 restrictions started in May 2005 when reservoir levels dipped below 40%. Increasingly strict restrictions were put in place since then, with Level 6 restrictions placed November 2007 with the goal of reducing household consumption to 140 liters/person/day, roughly half of 2005 levels. The reservoirs supplying approximately 1 million SE Queenslanders have been at operating lows since 2007, with the primary dam at falling to the 15% mark.
What do these restrictions mean?
Depending on the level, strict rules entail how much, how, and when you use water in your home. Tank or grey water may be used at anytime. For example, Level 5 restrictions include:
- Only watering gardens with buckets or watering cans (i.e. no hose or sprinklers!) on allocated days and at allocated times (3 days, between 4 and 7 pm)
- Only washing cars using a bucket to spot clean essentials like mirrors, lights, glass, number plates and "potentially damaging marks"
- Only topping up existing swimming pools with town water as a last resort and only
in households with (a) rainwater tank or downpipe rainwater diverter, (b) three of the following: a swimming pool cover, water efficient taps and showerheads, water efficient toilets, water efficient washing machine
- Only fill new pools with water sourced from outside areas under Level 5 restrictions (i.e. brought in by truck)
- Households using greater than 800L/day must submit a water use assessment form and identify saving opportunities
Did these restrictions work?
Various media outlets conscientiously report on dam levels. Yes, you'd see it on TV every night! Your neighbors could report you if they saw less than waterwise practices. Someone from the water authorities will come visit and issue a warning or a fine for repeated violations. And the restrictions seemed to work. Homes proudly display "Tank Water in Use" signs at the gate. Schools compete to win waterwise grants.
Apparently even after restrictions were lifted in July 2008, SE Queenslanders were consuming 122 liters/person/day of municipally supplied water. Dam levels are above 50% as of April 9. Way to go!
Come on, Californians, we can do it, too. Please tell your neighbor if you see inappropriate irrigation/car washing practices.
Disclaimers:
California and Queensland are probably very different places, culturally to say the least. Americans tell me "Here, you can't tell people what they can or cannot do on their own property." On the subject of lawns, some homeowners' associations can require you to water and properly maintain them, and warn you for creating blight or disamenity. My take on it is, we're in this drought together and one can no longer ignore one's impact on the larger society!
The trick is not in actually using LESS water per se, but drawing less water from municipal supply. Queenslanders may be more equipped to do this, given the high rate of rainwater tank installation. But there is a growing movement here in California (at least the SF Bay Area) around rainwater harvesting, downspout disconnection, and grey water installations. People are starting to get it and cities progressively pioneering such programs and policies.
Click for more info on:
SE Queensland water restrictions
Waterwise Queensland campaign
San Francisco's rainwater harvesting program
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