Barwon Water is thrilled to have won the Community Development Award for its Birregurra Sustainable Communities – Water project at the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) Core Value Awards held at the end of October.

The awards recognise organisations that genuinely engage with their communities on projects, following the IAP2 guidelines for engagement.

Barwon Water general manager Customers and Community Jo Murdoch said the award was fabulous recognition of Barwon Water’s commitment to engage deeply with local communities, in this case to save precious drinking water.

Ms Murdoch said the award was also a reflection on the amazing commitment of the Birregurra community to work together to make a difference.

“We took a unique place-based approach to sustainable water use by partnering with the Birregurra community to focus on behaviour change, leak detection and repair, water efficiency measures and opportunities to use more recycled water.

“We would like the thank the Birregurra community for the efforts during the project, which is ongoing, and share this award with them.”

The Birregurra Sustainable Communities – Water project started last summer with the installation of 400 digital meters at residences and businesses in the town.

The meters have helped identify 60 leaks since then and Barwon Water is working with property owners to have them fixed, so far averting potential water losses of 32 million litres when calculated over a 12-month period.

Ms Murdoch said that as well as installing the meters, a Water Savers group started actively tracking their household water use and learnt how to be more water efficient inside and outside their homes via ongoing engagement with Barwon Water.

“We were absolutely thrilled with the enthusiasm of our Water Savers who responded to the information about their water use positively and proactively, leading over time to average daily savings of about 40 litres per person compared to the rest of the Birregurra community.”

Some great examples included one household that reduced daily water consumption from 1,749 litres to 209 litres as the project progressed and another who brought their use down from about 1,200 litres to under 200 litres a day in the last week of the 12-week project.

Ms Murdoch thanked the Birregurra community for partnering with Barwon Water on the unique place-based approach to water saving.

She also acknowledged members of Birregurra Community Group, Birregurra Sustainability, the Friends of the Barwon and Colac Otway Shire for championing the project.

“I’d like to extend particular thanks to our Water Savers Group who really embraced the Birregurra Sustainable Communities – Water project’s focus on behaviour change, leak detection and repair, and water efficiency measures.

“This place-based approach to water efficiency and water saving shows what’s possible when council, community, business and school leaders partner with the local water corporation to save our precious resource.”

Colac Otway Shire Councillor Chris Potter said the collaborative approach had been welcomed by the community and the shire.

“Installing digital technology has been a huge advantage for the Birregurra community and Colac Otway Shire has seen firsthand its benefits though leak detection and repair at the Birregurra Recreation Reserve. A leak there of about 45 litres per hour, or almost 4 million litres per year, was identified and fixed, saving both water and money.”

Birregurra Community Group president Trevor Hodson said he was proud of the community’s involvement in the project.

“The Birregurra Sustainable Communities – Water project goes to show how much water you can save when communities and technology combine to achieve results”.

Friends of the Barwon and Birregurra Landcare Group member Lachie Gordon said the project showed how much could be achieved when everyone worked together.

“Through working together, we can achieve so much. I am looking forward to continuing to see the positive results of the project.”

Other highlights of the project to date have included a free WaterAssist Home program to help fix water leaks, a Water Hero program with the Birregurra Primary School, exploring opportunities with businesses for using Class C recycled water and water efficiency tips and information.