PROJECT AQUARIUS: Ballarat Home Water Refit – Now open for business

Project Aquarius: Ballarat Home Water Refit is now open for business, giving 5,000 Ballarat households the opportunity to have their home re-fitted with water-saving devices for a net cost of just $30, helping each household save an average of 18,000 litres of water every year.  The project was launched by the Hon. John Thwaites in December 2006 and residents can now register their interest in the project.

Residents of households in Ballarat & District Water Supply System can call 1300 88 22 51 or 13 14 50 (for interpretative service) between the hours of 8.00am to 6.00pm Monday to Saturday, exclusive of public holidays, to register or find out more information.

Although the refit is valued up to $180, households will only be invoiced $80. The Victorian State Government will provide a $50 rebate to each household who take up the service under the audit component of the Water Smart Gardens and Homes Rebate Scheme, resulting in an effective cost of just $30 for the service which includes the fitting of a three-star showerhead, flow regulators on internal taps, toilet flush control for single flush toilets and the fixing of leaking taps or toilets.  In addition the service provides an in-home water audit and general water saving advice. 

The program will help residents save water, save energy by reducing hot water use, save money through reduced water and energy costs and help the environment through reduced greenhouse gas emissions and reduced wastewater discharges.

Households receiving mains water from the Ballarat & District Water Supply System are eligible to participate.  This includes the townships of: Alfredton, Ballan, Ballarat, Ballarat East, Ballarat North, Ballarat South, Black Hill, Brown Hill, Bungaree, Buninyong, Bunkers Hill, Cambrian Hill, Canadian, Cardigan Village, Carngham, Corindhap, Creswick, Delacombe, Dereel, Enfield, Eureka, Flagstaff Hill, Golden Point, Gordon, Haddon, Invermay, Linton, Little Bendigo, Magpie, Miners Rest, Mitchell Park, Mt Clear, Mt Egerton, Mt Helen, Mt Pleasant, Mt Rowan, Napoleons, Nerrina, Nintingbool, Pittong, Redan, Rokewood, Ross Creek, Rowsley, Scarsdale, Sebastopol, Skipton, Smythes Creek, Smythesdale, Snake Valley, Soldiers Hill, Yendon, Wallace, Warrenheip, Wendouree, Wendouree West, Windermere and Woodman’s Hill.     

The refit project is a first for a Victorian water authority and will be conducted by FieldForce Services P/L who have conducted major refit programs in Sydney, Canberra and Queensland.  Further information can also be found on the Central Highlands Water website.