Water security
What we asked...
How open are people to Icon Water exploring future alternate water options?
What you told us...
Participants considered water security an important area of focus for Icon Water as population growth and climate change continues. This was raised by participants unprompted as an area that Icon Water should invest in.
There was a poor level of participant understanding of the different future alternative water options. When listed in discussions, there were concerns raised about:
- the risk of contamination with the use of recycled water and stormwater –particularly for drinking;
- the potential cost of desalination options; and
- the environmental impacts of groundwater extraction.
The majority of participants were open to exploration of all future water options presented. For example, two-thirds of participants in the quantitative customer survey would support greater investment to explore future alternate water options. Similarly, the majority of key customers supported in principle investment in this area.
Other participants such as members of the Customer Advocacy Forum were in favour of this investment due to its potential to reduce water use and costs.
What we asked...
How open are people to the earlier use of temporary water restrictions?
What you told us...
There were mixed levels of participant support for the earlier enforcement of temporary water restrictions.
In the quantitative customer survey, just one-third of participants were supportive of Icon Water spending more on earlier temporary restrictions.
There was soft resistance expressed by participants who felt they were already ‘doing the right thing’.
Concerns were raised by large water users, who noted the large impact water restrictions have on irrigated grounds such as sports ovals. Restrictions mean these grounds can deteriorate and require significant time, effort and funds to recover to a standard accepted by the community for playing on.
