$2m in funding now available for smart water projects

The Smart Water Fund today announced the availability of $2 million in grants to help find smarter ways to conserve Victoria’s water supplies.

The Smart Water Fund is calling on businesses, community groups, research organisations and individuals with innovative water conservation, water recycling and biosolids management ideas to apply for funding.

“With Melbourne’s water storages just over 30% full and water restrictions in place across much of Victoria, there is an ongoing need to find innovative, smarter ways to conserve water,” says Shaun Cox, spokesperson for the Smart Water Fund.

“The Smart Water Fund is seeking innovative projects that will help address the challenges posed by drought and climate change to our water resources.

“By focusing on new or previously unexplored ideas that improve on current practices, the fund aims to generate knowledge that can then be used by the whole community to improve water sustainability,” Cox said.

The Smart Water Fund has already provided $28m in grant funding to 170 projects since 2002.

Current Smart Water Fund projects include:

• A Metropolitan Fire Brigade water capture and re-use system for firefighter training facilities that will save 60 million litres of water each year;
• A Cadbury Schweppes project to cut water consumption by 40% at its Ringwood plant, saving 50 million litres of water each year;
• A Barwon Prison project that will provide approximately 90 million litres of recycled water for re-use in prison facilities for toilet flushing, laundry and boiler room operations and also the irrigation of nearby sporting facilities.

Applications for funding close 20 November 2009. For further information or to request an application pack, visit www.smartwater.com.au, freecall 1800 882 432 or email info@smartwater.com.au.

The Smart Water Fund is a joint initiative of Melbourne’s water businesses and the Victorian government. The Smart Water Fund invests in research and innovation in urban water conservation, water recycling and biosolids management.

Since its inception in 2002, the Fund has invested approximately $28 million in 170 projects. Smart Water Fund projects have created a wealth of water saving knowledge available for the community and industry to access at its website.