Contribute to city’s water future

ENCOMPASSING the next five decades, Central Highlands Water is developing their Urban Water Strategy to be released in mid-2022.

The water board is currently seeking resident feedback to guide the plan, which will consider increases in population, climate change, and how these impact CHW’s water and wastewater systems across the region.

CHW managing director Paul O’Donohue said locals’ ideas are key to getting the Strategy right.

“As part of our future focus, we’re considering long-term water supply and demand scenarios,” he said.

“An integral part of our planning is talking to our community about how they currently use water and their understanding of the local water cycle, as well as what is important to our customers from a water and wastewater perspective.

“Water is a precious and limited resource, and it is important that we all work together as a community to ensure we manage it responsibly and sustainably. We’re inviting our community to provide input into this strategy via an online survey.”

CHW general manager of infrastructure planning and operations Jeff Haydon said community engagement could identify “localised alternative water source solutions for servicing customer needs.”

“Other options to be explored include water efficiency devices, rainwater tanks, stormwater harvesting and recycled water opportunities.”

Members of the public can offer their feedback via a survey at chw.net.au. They will be asked 15 short questions, which will take five to 10 minutes to compete in total, and their responses are confidential.

Online community consultation forums will also be facilitated in the coming months.