Water Management Plan(WMP)

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Address
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Date

Introduction

In recent years, as community demand for water has increased, the availability of this valuable natural resource has decreased. This makes it more important than ever to employ water conservation measures.

To assist your businesses focus on water conservation, we have developed a Water Management Plan(WMP). This Water Management Plan is intended to save your business water and money.

The objectives of the WMP are to:

•Assess current scheme water use on site

•Identify inefficiencies and potential water savings

•Prepare an action plan to implement water conservation actions

•Provide a process for annual reporting on implementation of water conservation actions

Further Information

Additional information can be found on the Water Corporation’s website.

1. Company Details and Water Management Team

Your account information and scheme water use is on your site’s water bills and you will need the previous 12 to 36 months of water bills. For assistance with this information, please contact the Water Corporation on 13 13 85 or email

Table 1–Company Details

Organisation name
Billing account number(s)
Site address:
Water Corporation Meter Size(s)
Water use 2013/2014 Year (kL)
Sewer discharge factor
What does your business do?
Details of existing water efficiencies
Do you have any water saving taps/showers/toilets?
Do you have an education campaign?
Water Management Team
Your Water Management Team are the people dedicated to reducing water use on your site. / Name / Position
Are you part of a relevant peak industry body membership?
Is your building NABERS or Green Star rated?

2. Information Collection and Water Use

This table will determine your average daily water use, taking into account abnormal operating conditions (such as shutdowns, refurbishments etc). Once you know your average daily use, you can compare years and start to make some assessments (3 years History is sufficient).

Download the Meter Reading Template from our website. The template allows businesses to monitor and record water usage on a weekly basis throughout the financial year.

Table 2–Daily Water Use

Year / Water Use (kL) / Average Daily Water Use (kL/day)
e.g. 2013/2014 / 32,896 kL / 90.12 kL/ day (32,896 / 365)

Water use data in Table 2 was influenced by:

(List any out of the ordinary operating conditions during the period assessed (e.g. days of operation, production rate, plant shutdown, commissioning etc))

3. Understanding Your Water Use

The first step in being able to reduce your water use is to understand where the water is being used in your business. By entering the relevant data in the below table you will be able to determine the percentage of water used in each major area.You can use your site knowledge to make an estimate.

Need help? You might like to contact one of our Waterwise Water Auditors. A Waterwise Water Auditor can investigate where your water is going, and give you advice on making your water use more efficient.

Table 3 - Water Use Balance

Major Water Using Facility / Water Source (Scheme, recycled, ground) / Percentage of Total Water Use (%)
Kitchen/food preparation area
Toilets
Hand basins
Showers
Cleaning
Cooling tower/evaporative air conditioner
Irrigation
Leak/s
Equipment / Process
Backwash
Other
Total / 100%

Water use shown above was determined by:

Give a brief explanation of how the water balance was determined (e.g. sub-metering, site water audit, estimated)

4. Benchmarking and Targets

Benchmarking

Benchmarking is a site specific measure. This measure determines how much water is consumed on site relevant to your industry, and allows for realistic and measurable targets to be set. Determining an appropriate benchmark will allow water use comparisons to be made each year.

Here are some industry specific benchmark indicators that may assist you in determining your own.

Table 4–Benchmarking Industry Examples

Industry Type / Benchmark Indicator
Shopping Centre / kL/GLA or kL/attendance
Hotel / Motel / kL/occupied room or kL/guest night
Caravan Park / kL/site or kL/occupant
Wharf / Port / kL/vessel or kL/tonne shipped
Hospital / kL/patient bed day
Mining / kL/tonne of ore produced or kL/tonne LPG produced
Prison / kL/prisoner or kL/inmate: employee
TAFE / University / School / kL/student/staff
Aquatic Centre / kL/patron
Restaurant / kL/patron
Manufacturing / kL/animal processed or kL/bottle of wine
Office / kL/person or kL/M2GLA

Using the previous years’ water use and benchmark indicatorcalculate the benchmark in the below table.

Table 4a–Benchmarking

Current (year) / Water used (kL) / Your Benchmark Indicator
(e.g. person or m2GLA) / Benchmark
(eg kL/person or kL/m2GLA)
2013/2014

Interpretation of results from Table 4a:

Comment on any increase/decrease in your benchmark (eg. production doubled during June)

5.Water Efficiency Targets

Setting water efficiency/ reduction targets will help drive the implementation of water conservation actions in your business.

It is possible that your site is already operating at best practice. If so, congratulations! You will still benefit from developing a WMP to gain a full understanding of water use to maintain or improve current efficiencies.

Setting a target provides good motivation for your team to from the beginning of the plan, even though you may be optimising water use already. The WMP allows for a short-term target to be set which needs to include a realistic timeframe from which improvements will be measured.

First Year Water Efficiency Target(s) – Short Term

Please enter the relevant information below

What is your % reduction target?

If the 2014/2015 target is a zero or negative figure please provide an explanation as to why below:

6. Opportunities to Save Water

Opportunities to save water can be made in a number of key areas, highlighted below.

1 -Operational Efficiency and Conservation

Increasing the operational efficiency of plant and equipment on site is one of the easiest ways to ensure water is used as efficiently as possible.

2 - Education and Awareness

Improved staff awareness can lead to significant reductions in water use.

3 - Water Re-use and Wastewater Management

Water re-use and improved wastewater management will enable the targets set in Section 5 to be achieved.

How have other businesses achieved their reduction targets? The examples below should help get you started or alternatively you can find further information on our website (Information sheets, Checklists, Resource Tools & Case Studies).

Operational efficiency & conservation:

  • Regular water meter readings in an effort to create consumption trends and analysis of data that which may lead to the identification of any leaks.
  • Investigate the feasibility of sub-metering major water using areas
  • Installation of water efficient appliances (taps, toilets, showerheads)

Education & awareness:

  • Staff Education – Water Efficiency addressed at staff meetings, Water efficiency to be a part of the induction training for new employees
  • Community Education – Stickers and/or posters in all amenities areas promoting Water Efficiency, Awareness competition with staff/ customers.

Water re-use & wastewater management:

  • Review rain water harvesting opportunities and potential use in cooling towers, toilets, irrigation and on site water treatment
  • Investigate Grey Water Re-Use

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7. Action Plan

Your opportunities to save water will become your action plan. Please use this table to list your opportunities, estimated savings and proposed completion date for each.

Areas of Actions
Operational Efficiency and Conservation
Water Re-use and Wastewater Management
Education and Awareness / Proposed Completion Date / Status of Action Items
(Completed or detailed progress report)
Short-term actions (up to 12 months)
Long-term actions (greater than 12 months)
Ongoing actions
Future water use

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8. Management Commitment

Customer Commitment to WMP
Business Name at Address
We are committed to implementing the water saving measures stated in this Water Management Plan and ensure our employees and contractors assist in implementing these actions.
Name / Phone
Position / Email
Signature / Date

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