Sustainability Report 2006/07Corporate water consumption
Water-efficient dishwashers and other fittings, as well as shower timers, were installed this year at selected sites to encourage water efficiency. This follows the introduction of dual-flush toilets and waterless urinals in our head office at East Melbourne.
However, we were unable to achieve our target of 7800 litres per FTE (Full Time Equivalents) per year for our office water use. Our result was 8600 litres per FTE per year, also higher than last year’s figure of 7942 litres per FTE. A leaking cooling tower during summer compromised this result.
Another issue arose from encouraging our people to use more sustainable modes of transport to get to work, such as bicycles and walking. Inevitably this meant that our people showered at work.
This result is only for water use at our head office at 100 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne. The average number of FTEs at this office during the year was 352 – about 40% of Melbourne Water’s total.
Water was used for toilet flushing, showers, drinking and washing dishes, as well as fire services.
FTEs include all our employees plus all contractors, consultants, trainees, secondees and any other people who utilise a Melbourne Water site.
Separate metering for office water was installed at six Melbourne Water sites in December (Maroondah, Yan Yean, Olinda, Silvan, Thomson and Devilbend).
In 2008/09, other office water consumption is being collated, along with water bill information for Warburton, Preston, Upper Yarra and Healesville, and metering information for the administration building at the Eastern Treatment Plant, to form an expanded set of sites for the office water baseline. Other investigations will also occur next year to determine the capacity for office water metering at other Melbourne Water sites.