Waroona Recreation and Aquatic Centre recognised as waterwise

Waroona Recreation and Aquatic Centre has been recognised for its efforts to save water, as part of Water Corporation’s Waterwise Aquatic Centre Program.

Waroona Recreation and Aquatic Centre Manager, Bronwyn Cooke, said a range of relatively simple changes had resulted in water use reducing last financial year to a benchmark of 20 litres per patron.

“We’re very pleased with what we’ve been able to achieve. As WA continues to experience the effects of a drying climate, it’s even more important that everyone looks for ways to reduce water use and that’s why we are trying to do our bit here,” Ms Cooke said.

“We’ve actually been making changes to be more waterwise over the past few years so pool users will already be familiar with the water efficient showerheads in the change rooms, dual flush toilets, ‘shorter showers’ stickers and a reduced flow from basins, but most of the changes are behind the scenes,”  she said.

The Centre’s staff now monitor and read meters daily and record water use so they are able to pick up any anomalies that arise. Looking for leaks is now part of the daily meter-reading inspections and if repairs are needed, they are done as quickly as possible.

“We’ve also made changes to the way we clean and don’t use the hose as much as we used to.”

Water Corporation South West Regional Manager, John Janssen, said he was proud of the difference staff had been able to make:

 “The Centre’s now much more waterwise, our customers see that and it’s great that the South West has some of the lowest water use rates per-person in the state,” Mr Janssen said.

“The Waterwise Aquatic Centre Program is just one way we’re working with the community across the South West. We also take part in other programs such as Waterwise Schools and Waterwise Councils, which all help reduce water use,” he said. 

The Waterwise Aquatic Centre Program is a joint initiative of Water Corporation and the Leisure Institute of WA Aquatics.

Water Corporation has worked with LIWA to promote water efficiency in aquatic centres, helping the industry save 858 million litres since 2008 – enough to fill about 381 Olympic swimming pools.