Video: Andrew Hansen on conserving Melbourne's water supply

Duration
02:11
Audio described version
Transcript

Andrew Hansen: When I moved to Melbourne, I thought, "At last!

00:03

"Good coffee, great culture,

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"really great intellectual conversations

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"about the weather."

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Because we do that here, don't we?

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We talk about the rain, the cold, the heat,

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all the weather types.

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Well, maybe it's because this city of ours

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has relied on the weather for our water supply.

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If there was enough rain, we were OK.

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But if not, well,

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tighter and tighter water restrictions

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while we looked to the skies.

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We can't rely on rain anymore.

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Worldwide water conservation

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is one of the biggest issues of our time.

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First big challenge is climate change.

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That means it's raining less,

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and when it does rain, our land is drier,

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so it soaks up more water,

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leaving less to flow through to the dams.

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Climate change also makes bushfires more likely.

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Now, they threaten nearby dams

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and take water to put out.

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Then there's the fact that

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everyone wants to live in Melbourne,

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including babies!

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Selfish babies!

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So, everyone wants to join us

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in Australia's fastest growing city.

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And what do more people need?

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More...coffee.

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Which means more water.

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Now, the good news is, we have a plan.

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It's underway

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and, breaking news, it's not all about the weather.

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Instead, it's all about diversification.

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Now, that means more stormwater

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and recycled water,

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you know, for non-drinking uses.

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Means things like green roofs, raingardens

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and plumbing that's clever

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and not at all selfish,

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like babies.

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It means using desalinated water.

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And it means everyone doing their bit.

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Now, we only need to save this much water each day

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to make a difference.

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Chances are...we can do this by asking ourselves

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the big questions.

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Questions like...

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Do you turn the tap off when brushing your teeth?

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Can you get out of the shower a minute earlier?

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If it's yellow...

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..do you let it mellow?

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Now, there's a conversation to replace the weather.

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But the bigger conversation

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and the one we all need to have

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is about conserving water.

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I'm talking reaching our daily target

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of 155 litres per person per day or less.