Conserving water – maximising the net benefits

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Consultation has concluded

Reducing water usage, even in times of wet weather, will help prolong the region’s supply and allow us more time to plan for the future and embrace new technologies and other innovative solutions.

We recognise that as a utility, there is more we can do to save water.

To help us prioritise our water conservation projects, such as water efficiency, leakage management and recycling projects, we are developing an approach for determining our Economic Level of Water Conservation (ELWC). You can think of the ELWC as the optimal volume of water saved. The ELWC is a requirement of our 2017-2022

Reducing water usage, even in times of wet weather, will help prolong the region’s supply and allow us more time to plan for the future and embrace new technologies and other innovative solutions.

We recognise that as a utility, there is more we can do to save water.

To help us prioritise our water conservation projects, such as water efficiency, leakage management and recycling projects, we are developing an approach for determining our Economic Level of Water Conservation (ELWC). You can think of the ELWC as the optimal volume of water saved. The ELWC is a requirement of our 2017-2022 Operating Licence.

In late September we released a discussion paper. The purpose of the discussion paper was to:

  • Explain our regulatory requirements in relation to water conservation particularly those relating to the Economic Level of Water Conservation (ELWC).
  • Provide our preliminary positions on design of an ELWC methodology.
  • Explore challenges in developing and implementing an ELWC methodology, including potential means of addressing the challenges.
  • Gather feedback from customers, consumers, customer representatives, stakeholders, regulators and other water industry representatives.

We asked for feedback on the issues raised in the discussion paper, or any related matter. We mentioned that we would:

  1. Publish the written submissions that we received on this site.
  2. Publish a summary of the feedback received and Hunter Water’s responses to the key matters raised by stakeholders.

We are currently reviewing the submissions and will update this site as soon as possible.

The Discussion Paper is still available as a PDF in the Document library to the right.




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  • How should we describe the optimal level of water conservation?

    almost 3 years ago
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    Our optimal level of water conservation is formally referred to as our Economic Level of Water Conservation (ELWC). 

    We are interested in your views on 'what is the ELWC'.

    Our proposed definition is:

    The Economic Level of Water Conservation is the level of water conservation achieved when the additional social benefits from water conservation activities are equal to their additional social costs, seeking to maximise net social and environmental benefits.

    In other words, the benefits of water conservation projects should at least equal the costs when assessed from a 'whole of society' perspective.

    Could we describe the ELWC in a more meaningful way to you?
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