Birregurra Sustainable Communities - Water
Barwon Water and the Birregurra Community Group have teamed up to explore opportunities for sustainable water use to help identify and repair water leaks, reduce the town’s water use over time, identify opportunities to substitute drinking water usage and provide education and advice on conserving water.
Customers in Birregurra have received information outlining the project including replacing water meters with a new digital meter as part of our regular meter replacement program.
Our Water Savers Program
Thank you to the 39 Birregurra locals who signed up to be a Water Saver. Over summer (January to March, 2021), you will be encouraged to monitor your weekly water use, learn how and when you use water and identify and implement ways to improve the water efficiency of your home.
Expressions of Interest to join the group have now closed, however you can still be involved by:
- following us on social media @BarwonWater for some water saving tips and tricks;
- reviewing our permanent water saving rules; and
- monitoring your own water usage here.
Continue to keep dropping by this page for the latest information and news.
Missed our information session? Catch up below
Not playing? Click here to watch.
Barwon Water and the Birregurra Community Group have teamed up to explore opportunities for sustainable water use to help identify and repair water leaks, reduce the town’s water use over time, identify opportunities to substitute drinking water usage and provide education and advice on conserving water.
Customers in Birregurra have received information outlining the project including replacing water meters with a new digital meter as part of our regular meter replacement program.
Our Water Savers Program
Thank you to the 39 Birregurra locals who signed up to be a Water Saver. Over summer (January to March, 2021), you will be encouraged to monitor your weekly water use, learn how and when you use water and identify and implement ways to improve the water efficiency of your home.
Expressions of Interest to join the group have now closed, however you can still be involved by:
- following us on social media @BarwonWater for some water saving tips and tricks;
- reviewing our permanent water saving rules; and
- monitoring your own water usage here.
Continue to keep dropping by this page for the latest information and news.
Missed our information session? Catch up below
Not playing? Click here to watch.
-
Water Savers Summer Pilot Project Complete
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkThank you to all our wonderful 'Water Savers' who participated in our behaviour change pilot project over the summer and congratulations to those who reduced their consumption!
A summary report outlining the main findings of the Water Savers summer pilot project has been completed and will be distributed to our Water Saver participants.
There have been some interesting findings, with our Water Savers showing a significant reduction in their summer water use during the 12-week pilot. The Water Savers reduced their consumption during the 2020/21 summer by around 29% or 89 litres per person per day. Overall our Water Savers group saved around 643 kilolitres or 0.6 ML during the 12-week summer pilot, congratulations to all those who participated!
The full pilot project report is now available and can be accessed in the Useful Documents section.
-
Community Pop Up Event
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkThe Birregurra community are invited to a community pop-up event to learn more about the next stage of the Sustainable Communities - Water initiative.
When: Friday 21 May 11am - 12.30pm
Where: Birregurra Hall, 42-44 Market Street (outside in The Yard if weather permitting)
This is your chance to ask questions about the project and ask Barwon Water staff about all things water.
Please note, to make this a COVID safe event we will have clear signage, masks and sanitiser available and ask everyone to keep to a safe physical distance.
-
Water Savers Update
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkThank you to all who signed up to our Water Savers program.
Expression of Interest to join the group have now closed, however you can still be involved by:
- following us on social media @BarwonWater for some water saving tips and tricks;
- reviewing our permanent water saving rules; and
- monitoring your own water usage here.
-
Welcome to Birregurra Sustainable Communities - Water
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkWe are thrilled to be partnering with the local Birregurra community on this groundbreaking project and we look forward to working with you to creating a more sustainable community together.
The first stage of the project will focus on understanding how you use water.
To support this, we will replace your water meter with a new digital meter as part of our regular meter replacement program.
Installation of the new meters will take place over a three-week period, commencing in November 2020.
There will be no cost to you and there won’t be any changes to your current meter reading and billing processes. If you foresee any issues regarding access to your property (such as locked gates), please contact our Metering team on 1300 656 007 or info@barwonwater.vic.gov.au
Once the meters are installed, you will be invited to take part in a “Water Savers” pilot project. The project will see you monitor your home or business water use through an online platform to determine when you use water the most and if you have any undetected leaks. We will also support you to repair any leaks identified, which will save money on your bill.
The Birregurra Sustainable Communities - Water information pack provides further details about the project and how to get involved.
-
Community Webinar - Learn more about the project
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkWatch back our interactive zoom webinar about the Birregurra Sustainable Communities – Water initiative and learn how to get involved with the Water Savers group.
The webinar was hosted on December 14, 7.00pm - 8.00pm via Zoom.
You will hear from special guests about:
- Birregurra Sustainable Communities - Water
- How digital meters help with identifying leaks
- Water Savers pilot project
- Coliban Water’s experience with digital meters
- and Colac Otway Shire's sustainability projects
Click here to watch.
Lifecycle
-
Birregurra Sustainable Communities - Water launched
Birregurra Sustainable Communities - Water has finished this stageNovember 2020 - Customer letter and information pack emailed and mailed to all customers in Birregurra.
-
Water meter replacement
Birregurra Sustainable Communities - Water has finished this stageNovember and December 2020 - Water meters replaced with digital meters.
-
Community information session (online)
Birregurra Sustainable Communities - Water has finished this stage14 December 2020 - a Zoom webinar to learn more and ask questions, from the comfort of home.
-
Expressions of Interest (EOI) for "Water Savers" project open
Birregurra Sustainable Communities - Water has finished this stageNovember - 31 December 2020 - Expressions of Interest to participate in a pilot project to monitor water use open to all customers in Birregurra.
-
"Water Savers" project begins
Birregurra Sustainable Communities - Water has finished this stageJanuary - March 2021 - Water Savers pilot commences, participating customers monitor their water usage via the My H2O Dashboard. We will help customers who identify leaks with our support programs as well as provide advice and education on how to lower water use and use water more sustainably.
-
Community Pop Up Event
Birregurra Sustainable Communities - Water has finished this stage21 May 2021 - a Community Pop Up to celebrate our Water Savers and a chance for the community to ask questions about the project and chat to Barwon Water staff about all things water. You'll find us in The Yard outside the Birregurra Hall between 11am to 12:30pm.
-
Ongoing updates to the Birregurra community
Birregurra Sustainable Communities - Water has finished this stageOngoing - Continue to meet regularly with the Birregurra community and share updates through the Birregurra Mail.
-
Recycled water expression of interest
Birregurra Sustainable Communities - Water has finished this stageJuly 2021 - Expressions of interest to reuse Class C recycled water have closed. EOI's are currently being assessed against criteria to determine the next steps.
-
Identifying innovation and opportunities to be more sustainable with water
Birregurra Sustainable Communities - Water is currently at this stageOngoing - Barwon Water will work with Birregurra customers and the broader community to identify other opportunities to become even more sustainable and efficient with water.
Useful Documents
-
Water Savers Pilot Project Report - June 2021 (508 KB) (pdf)
-
Monthly Overveiw - Birregurra Sustainable Communities - Water February to April 2021.pdf (817 KB) (pdf)
-
Community Webinar Q&A (292 KB) (pdf)
-
Customer Letter - Meter Replacement.pdf (290 KB) (pdf)
-
Fact Sheet - Digital Meters (324 KB) (pdf)
-
About Birregurra Sustainable Communities (468 KB) (pdf)
Commonly Asked Questions
- Why are digital meters being installed in Birregurra?
- What water are savings are expected from the project?
- What are digital meters?
- How do digital meter’s work?
- Is there any cost to me?
- Will my water bill change because of the new meter?
- Why do I need a new water meter?
- What is the My H2O Dashboard?
- I have a frost cover on my water meter, can I still use this with my new digital meter?
- How will I know when my digital meter is being installed
- Who will install the new meter?
- How long do digital meters last?
- How are leaks detected?
- Do I need to do anything?
- Are there benefits of digital meters other than leak detection?
- Where is digital meter technology being used?
- Can I still dispute my bill if I think my water consumption is incorrect?
- What about contractor safety?
Important Links
Here to help
-
JB
Phone 1300 656 007 Email info@barwonwater.vic.gov.au