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Bald Hills Resident with Week’s Best WaterSmart tip

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Bald Hills resident Mr David Collen is the winner of Brisbane’s city-wide website search to find the best tip or trick to save water at home and in the garden.

The Lord Mayor Spokesman for Water, Councillor Jane Prentice said Mr Collen's cost-effective solution to divert rainwater run-off from his roof to his swimming pool stood out amongst all the suggestions.

"It is encouraging to see Brisbane residents stepping up to the mark and adopting some really simple, innovative methods to save water as we head into our sixth year of drought," Cr Prentice said.

"Since installing his simple $20 device, for the past two months he hasn't needed to use any potable water to top up his inground swimming pool."

Mr Collen said he had used a simple $6 plastic connector and a $14 greywater hose from his local hardware store to complete the device that now saved him from using drinking water to top up his pool.

"I had to use precious drinking water in my pool at least once a month before I installed the drain pipe," Mr Collen said.

"I saw rainwater running off my roof and the pool level dropping daily, and thought there must be a way to divert the water and collect it for my pool."

Mr Collen said he’d adopted some other water-saving devices around the home and regularly shared them on Council's website.

All water-saving ideas can submitted via Council's drought website at: www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/drought  The best tip will be selected each month, and the Lord Mayor will announce October's winner early November.

Cr Prentice said Council received hundreds of suggestions from residents via newspapers, letters and weblogs on easy tips to save water, showing Brisbane residents are keen to share their wonderful inventions and ideas to tackle the drought across the south east.

"Mr Collen’s invention is a fine example ingenuity and concern for water supply situation."

Council estimates that on average more than 100 litres of water evaporates from a standard backyard swimming pool each day.

Mr Collen will receive a certificate of thanks from the Lord Mayor and a ‘NoWet’ waterless car clean kit for his winning suggestion, courtesy of Council’s Watersense Blue Van and ‘NoWet’.

For further information about the drought, or for water-saving tips for the home and garden, contact the Drought Hotline on 1300 789 906 or visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/drought

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