Page 1 of 3
NEWS RELEASE
MELBOURNE
17 December 2009
Melbourne people smarter about water saving
In Melbourne it is estimated that 800,000 adults still believe that water restrictions are not
restrictive enough, according to a Newspoll just conducted.
Across the five capital cities surveyed 22% thought they are not restrictive enough – in Melbourne
the figure is 26%. The figure has more than halved in four years since the first Newspoll in 2006
when 53% of Melbourne residents felt they were not restrictive enough.
The Newspoll was conducted for the Smart Approved Water Mark, Australia’s water saving symbol
for products and services around the home and garden. A representative sample of 702 adults
aged 18+ were interviewed in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
The CEO of the Smart WaterMark, Mr Julian Gray, says the survey results are encouraging and
generally positive when compared with the past four years’ surveys and the fact that most cities
have experienced reasonable rainfalls through winter and spring.
“Even though the ‘extremely serious’ and ‘very serious’ concerns over the water situation combined
have dropped from over 80% in 2006 to around 60% in 2009, more than 90% of respondents
surveyed still think the situation is at least somewhat serious .
“This is good news and shows that issues such as the ongoing drought in many parts of the country
and the water conservation campaigns conducted by water utilities are maintaining a level of
concern about water use in our cities,” said Mr Gray.
Melbourne residents appear to be saving more water around the home with the proportion using
rainwater tanks (37%), soil wetting agents/mulch (61%), trigger nozzles (69%) and grey water
(66%) all increasing significantly in the most recent Newspoll.
Page 2 of 3
In 2006 only 20% of Melbourne residents surveyed said they were using rainwater tanks – the
figure was nearly double that this year at 37% or an estimated 1.1 million people.
Across all cities, people aged 50+ are the most likely to use water saving products with nine in 10
(92%) in this age group using at least one kind of water saving device around their home. In
particular, they were more likely to use soil wetting agents or mulch (68%) and trigger nozzles on
their hoses (73%) than those in younger age groups.
For 18-34 year olds, while they are not as seriously concerned as other age groups - 22% think the
situation is extremely serious compared with 30% of those aged 35+ - still over 90% see the
situation remaining at least somewhat serious.
Results from other cities showed:
Sydney
The percentage of people who think that the water situation is extremely serious is 18%,
below the capital city average of 27%.
About one in four people (24%) still feel that water restrictions are not restrictive enough.
Sydney residents surveyed trailed those in other capital cities in the uptake of a number of
water saving measures questioned – 20% for rainwater tanks (versus 30% average across
all the 5 main capital cities), 50% use soil wetting agents or mulches (61%av), 15% use
irrigation systems (25%av) and 27% use grey water (44%av).
Brisbane
The percentage of Brisbane residents who feel the water situation is extremely serious has
more than doubled since last year, going from 14% to 32%.
The proportion using grey water in Brisbane (57%) has also increased significantly – up
from 42% in 2008.
81% think water restrictions are about right – the highest of any city.
Nearly everyone is aware of rebate schemes (98% compared with the average across the
five capital cities of 90%)
Adelaide
Residents appear to be leading the way in the use of several water saving measures
around the home – rainwater tanks (46%), trigger nozzles (78%), and waterless car cleaners
(18%), and second for soil wetting agents or mulches (74%).
Only 10% of those surveyed said water restrictions are not restrictive enough, whereas 22%
is the average across all five capitals.
Page 3 of 3
However 16% think Adelaide’s water restrictions are too much – compared with the city
average of 6%.
Perth
One in 10 Perth residents surveyed say that the water situation is not serious
Water saving practices in home gardens have been strongly adopted with 80% using soil
wetting agents or mulches and 76% using irrigation systems for efficient watering, with the
latter well ahead of the average across the five capital cities of 25%.
However rainwater tanks are only used by 12% of people, compared with the capital city
average of 30%.
The Smart WaterMark scheme has conducted the Newspoll each year for four years since it was
launched to the public. More information on Smart WaterMark can be found on its consumer
For more information:
Mr Julian Gray, phone (02) 9223 3322 or 0407 406 973
Smart Approved WaterMark is Australia's water saving labelling program for products and services
which are helping to reduce outdoor water use. The Smart WaterMark is run by the Water Services
Association of Australia, Irrigation Australia, the Nursery and Garden Industry Australia and the
Australian Water Association with funding from the Australian Government's Water Smart Australia
programme through the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.
Released for Smart Approved WaterMark by GREEN PR, contact Neville Sloss, ph 0414 562 010
NEWS 
