Remarkable water savings for Booleroo and Melrose

The communities of Booleroo Centre and Melrose in South Australia's southern Flinders Ranges will save nearly six million litres of water each year through the use of an innovative water-saving technique.

Covers installed over local wastewater treatment storage lagoons at Booleroo Centre and Melrose are all but eliminating evaporation. The covers also reduce the temperature and UV exposure of the water, reducing the likelihood of algal blooms.

Mount Remarkable District Council received funding for the covers from the Australian Government's $90,000 National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns program aimed to reduce evaporation and improve the quality of community recycled water, used for non-drinking purposes.

Senator Don Farrell, Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and Urban Water, said the Australian Government investment is providing significant water savings.

"More than 95% of the water previously lost to evaporation will now be retained and at a higher quality than before, for use by the council."

The council uses all water captured and treated for re-use in the storage lagoon for the irrigation of public recreation spaces, such as local sporting fields.

The project is one of 31 in regional local government areas throughout South Australia that are receiving a total of $7.169 million in Australian Government funding through the State Wide Cities and Towns Program, which is administered by the Local Government Association of South Australia.