Across South East Queensland, business, industry and government use around 30% of our water supply. They must achieve long-term savings and strict guidelines and compliance measures apply for major users.

Many businesses across the region have already made significant savings.

What businesses can do

Business, industry and other non-residential users must achieve long-term savings and strict guidelines and compliance measures apply for large users:

• businesses using more than 10 million litres a year must prepare, submit and comply with a Water Efficiency Management Plan (even if they have already achieved a reduction of 25%)
• business consuming more than 1 million litres must install water efficient appliances
• premises’ urinals must be water efficient by 30 September 2007

Specific industries must also meet stringent targets:

• car washers must maximise their use of re-circulated water and meet best practice targets
• mobile commercial operators for building, vehicle and dog washing can only use town water in accordance with best practice guidelines, following registration and training
• nurseries, turf farms and market gardens can only use water in compliance with their WEMPs
• active playing fields and sporting groups can only water on allocated days at certain times

Industry water efficiency guidelines provide easy to implement tips on how to save in your business:

• Commerical laundries (PDF, 439 KB)
• Food processing (PDF, 1 MB)
• Food services (PDF, 395 KB)
• Metal finishing (PDF, 581 KB)

The Queensland Government has allocated $40million to assist business implement water saving measures through the Business Water Efficiency Program (BWEP). The program is regionally based and managed, facilitated by major councils and the state, and coordinated by SEQWater.