By using water sensibly, installing a rainwater tank or water efficiency devices, you can reduce the amount of treated mains drinking water that you use and help protect the environment.
Managing the water that falls on your property can also be an effective way to use water more efficiently and protect our natural creeks from excess runoff.
You can also work out how to be water smart by using the
WaterSmart Homes information package to change your impact on our waterways!
- Water Smart Homes (PDF)
- Site Planning (PDF)
- Drainage Design (PDF)
- Rainwater Tanks (PDF)
- Infiltration Devices (PDF)
- Paving (PDF)
- Landscape Measures (PDF)
- Landscape Practices (PDF)
The WaterSmart package was developed as part of a cooperative effort by Lower Hunter and Central Coast Councils through the
Regional Environmental Management Strategy.
Hunter Water also has a number of fact sheets and great tips on how to save water and care for our waterways.
Grey water re-use
Greywater is recycled water from inside the house that can be used in the garden instead of flowing through to the town sewerage system.
It can be from the shower, bath or washing machine (but definitely not the toilet and preferably not the kitchen sink). A well-managed greywater system can save many thousands of litres of household water use.
Council administers on-site waste water treatment systems in accordance with the requirements of state legislation (the Public Health Act and Regulation).
Greywater reuse may involve
- Diversion – where the greywater is diverted from a laundry or bathroom directly to an irrigation system
- Treatment – where the greywater receives some sort of treatment to improve its quality
- Storage – where the greywater is contained in some way prior to treatment or reuse.
Greywater diversion on a residential property can be done without Council approval only if it satisfies a number of conditions. The most significant of these are:
- the diversion device must be an approved type under the Watermark scheme and
- the greywater is diverted directly to an on-site sub surface irrigation system.
Installing a diversion unit that can switch the greywater flow between the irrigation area and the sewer allows the water to be used on the garden when it is needed, or for it to be safely disposed at other times.
Greywater treatment and storage systems can pose more public health risk. These systems require a Council application and approval process and on-going inspections.
Composting toilets
Composting toilets are becoming increasingly popular for home use.
They use no water and reduce water and energy consumption by not using tap water for flushing and by not requiring pumping through the sewer network to a treatment works.
They do however require careful management and compliance with strict operating and maintenance procedures and approval requirements.
Composting toilets need approval from Council to install and to operate.
The toilet must be a model which is accredited by the NSW Department of Health.
Information on state accreditation is available on the Department's website.
Operational approval would be for two years and then require renewal. Council would inspect the system near the expiry date of its approval. Fees apply for approvals and inspections.
Please call Council on 4974 0000 and ask to speak with an Environmental Protection Officer if you would like to discuss any of the above in more detail.
Please Note: In the case of any inconsistency between documents from other parties quoted or referenced in this web site and Council adopted policies, planning instruments or other documents, the Council requirements and/ or documents will take precedence.
The
NSW Government provides a range of online information on household sustainability, including:
- saving energy (including hot water, heating, cooling, insulation, lighting and building).
- buying energy and water efficient products and appliances (including garden products).
- recycling and waste (including tips for reducing food waste).
- gardening (including composting, worm farming, mulching and waterwise gardening guides).
- natural "green" cleaning.
- buying and renovating homes.
Save Power kits
Save Power kits are an easy and fun way to assess energy use in your household.
The kits contain special thermometers and a compass to help you measure the optimal temperature for your home, a power meter so you can test how much electricity your appliances are using, a stop watch you can use to measure water usage, and a handy guidebook, worksheets and action plan to help you start saving energy straight away.
The Save Power kits are available to borrow free of charge from any branch of the Newcastle Regional Library.
Come and explore through games and activities threats to our natural waterways and what you can do to reduce your footprint on the environment.