Brisbane water shortage hits hard

[Grant]

When the timer pings, Emma Kendall-Marsden knows that her four minutes in the shower are up. This is Brisbane, and the water is running out.

Residents are being cajoled and threatened into using no more than 140 litres of water a day each. One minute in the shower consumes up to 15 litres. A soak in the bath can soak up 200 l, while a load of washing uses about 165l. In stiff upper lip fashion, the Kendall-Marsdens are doing their best to meet the target. They turn off taps while brushing their teeth and soaping themselves in the shower. They stuff the washing machine full and have mothballed the dishwasher. They save up dirty crockery to wash in bulk. "I couldn't tell you when I last had a bath," says Sam, a solicitor.

Yet the couple are still using 194 litres a day, according to Sam, who carefully logs their consumption. "We've been really frugal," he says. "I don't know what else we can cut back." Emma says: "I feel guilty even turning on the tap." The Kendall-Marsdens are not just being good citizens. Households with excessive water usage are required to perform an audit and may be fined. A fear of running out of water is well grounded. The three dams servicing the region are down to less than 20 per cent capacity. If next summer is as dry as the last one, Brisbane will run out of water late next year.

Brisbane dies for a thirst quencher - 29 Apr 2007 - NZ Herald: New Zealand and International Environment News