New research has shed light on how regional NSW residents use water at home, thanks to an innovative trial that provides helpful clues to improving efficiency and increasing water savings for the future.
The $163,500 study, funded by the NSW Government, measured residential water consumption in over 500 households across the Ballina, Bathurst, and Dubbo Councils over a 12-month period, using cutting-edge smart meters and artificial intelligence.
“This is the first time a study of this kind has been carried out in regional NSW using AI technology, which is very exciting, providing us with new information that will help us to fine-tune our local water planning and management,” NSW DCCEEW Executive Director of Operations Resilience Ashraf El-Sherbini said. “Traditional water meters need to have readings taken every few months, making it hard to understand what the water is being used for, but these high-tech smart meters can send information to local water utilities remotely in real-time, which revolutionises the way we monitor water consumption.”
The work was carried out in close partnership with Griffith University, using its state-of-the-art AI software Autoflow, to pinpoint exactly how many litres of water are used in the household for various purposes.
“We picked Ballina, Bathurst, and Dubbo to be part of the trial because they already had plenty of smart meters installed across homes and because they represent a good cross-section of regional NSW from the central and western inland to the coast,” El-Sherbini said.
The 225 properties analysed in Dubbo used more water on average (663L per day) than their 286 counterparts in Bathurst (466L per day) and 70 homes in Ballina (459L per day), reflecting the drier climate that drives higher outdoor usage and potentially larger household sizes.
“After trialling this study in metro areas, it’s great to see our super smart Artificial Intelligence being put through its paces out in the regions as well because we know water efficiency and security is front of mind for these communities,” Griffith University School of Engineering and Built Environment Professor Rodney Stewart said. “Smart meters on their own wouldn’t be able to produce this sort of data. It’s like having a Lamborghini without a driver. That’s where our software model comes in to identify water usage trends and patterns and then categorise it into different activities like toilet flushing, showering or clothes washing.”
In Bathurst and Ballina, the shower and bath were the largest water consumers, accounting for about 30 per cent of total residential use, or roughly 140 litres each day.
However, one consistent finding across the three local government areas is that many toilets are inefficient. Replacing them with more modern toilets could lead to significant water savings in Dubbo, Bathurst, and Ballina.
“The findings are interesting. In particular, it appears many toilets are rated only 1 and 2 stars for water efficiency. That’s an area we could definitely zero in on with all levels of government looking at encouraging and incentivising upgrades to improve water sustainability,” El-Sherbini said.
This improved understanding of consumption patterns will enable the NSW Government and local water utilities to make more informed water management decisions using existing resources throughout the year, but particularly during times of peak demand and drought.
Learn more about the NSW Government’s Water Efficiency Program.
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