Save on Business Bills

As business people we love to save money and if it makes us look good, even better. The good news for Northern Rivers businesses is that Rous water is continuing its successful Blue & Green Business Program. The program provides funding to businesses and other non-residential water customers that reduce their consumption of town water or find ways to use water more efficiently.

It’s a win win situation, as a business you save money on your water bills and you can shout about it.

Under the program, projects are eligible to receive a rebate of up to 50% of the cost of materials and labour required to carry out water saving projects, with a maximum set at $350 for every 100,000 litres reduction per year. This is calculated pro rata based on the reduction in water use that is expected to be achieved after one year. For example, for a project that reduces the demand on town water by 1 megalitre (1 million litres) per year, Rous Water would provide funding assistance of 50% of the cost of the project or $3,500, whichever amount is lower.

Eligible projects can be as simple as replacing old toilets with new dual flush models or more complicated such as water recycling schemes. Examples of successful projects completed by participants so far include these as well as replacing showers with 3-star WELS rated shower heads, installing rainwater tanks to supply water to amenities buildings and for swimming pool top-up, installing pressure reduction valves on water pipelines, reusing treated effluent and installing restrictors and water efficient tapware.

Any business or school or other non-residential water customers using significant amounts of water, in particular those using more than 500 kilolitres per year are invited to participate. Rous Water is offering these businesses a free water audit to investigate the potential benefits of installing water-efficient fixtures and fittings as well as recycling opportunities. Harvesting and using rainwater in preference to town water for cleaning, watering gardens and similar activities is also a high priority.

Over the past year, many businesses and schools have participated in the funding program. The overall water saving from these projects is estimated to be in excess of 25 megalitres (millions of litres) per year. This saving is equivalent to the annual water use of about 140 households, so the potential gains are significant.
One example of a successful project has been carried out by the Alstonville Leisure Village.

The Alstonville Leisure Village installed two rainwater tanks totalling 16,000 litres to supply water to toilets, showers and a laundry in the main amenities building (see photo). This project was estimated to save about 805 kilolitres of water per year and Rous Water was able to provide funding assistance of $2,818 towards the cost of the tanks and installation.

To participate in the program and take advantage of the funding call Rous Water on (02) 6621 8055 or email: water@rouswater.nsw.gov.au.

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