Water@UNSW

Potable water (supplied by Sydney Water) and bore water (pumped from on-site bores) is used extensively across campus for the common, but essential things in life.

The proportion of bore water to potable water (currently about 40%) is gradually being increased as toilet flushing, irrigation, cooling towers and some laboratory processes are connected to the Kensington campus bore water network

With increasing gross floor area (GFA) through the construction of new buildings and amenities, one would expect consumption to consequently increase. WRONG! Potable water consumption per square metre of GFA has been significantly decreasing since 2002 seeing a reduction of up to 21% in 2003.

The introduction of timed-flow taps, water-free urinals, improved control of cooling systems and an extensive program encouraging staff and students to "spot" waste all contributed to this great result.

In the year of the worst drought since Noah was a boy (before the flood!), we reduced our water consumption by 18%.    How?   By more careful water management, a new water conservation policy, and an extension of the bore water system for irrigation and toilet flushing.

We've also extended our trial of water-free urinals, saving millions of litres of water each year.