Two South West towns recognised for waterwise efforts

Two South West towns have received recognition for their efforts to be waterwise.

The Shire of Capel has been recognised as a new gold waterwise council, and the Shire of Boyup Brook has received a newly endorsed waterwise aquatic centre recognition for the town’s swimming pool.

Capel president Doug Kitchen said reaching a gold standard was new for the shire but it had been recognised in the past on a lower level.

“It’s about conserving one of our most precious resources because water is vital to our way of life and agriculture in our area,” he said.

“It’s important in an environment such as ours where we have hot, long summers that we are aware of the water resource we have and find ways to use it better.”

Cr Kitchen said the administration building has used a rainwater tank, and others had waterwise urinals or toilets, while all gardens used natives and waterwise plantings.

Shire of Boyup Brook manager of community services Nicki Jones said pool manager Tara Reid was contacted last year to discuss water usage.

“The pool season runs from October to April each year, and during this time uses a considerable amount of water,” Ms Jones said.

“Together with the Water Corporation through a water audit we identified leaking taps and water sources that didn’t have water-saving devices. The Water Corporation generously upgraded our taps, toilet cisterns and showerheads to water-saving devices.

“The patrons of the pool also contributed to the reduction of water by having shorter showers.”

Ms Jones said leaks were monitored and repaired, including replacing an ageing and faulty solar hot-water system with a heat pump.