Frequently Asked Questions
It rains so much up here, why do we need to reduce our water consumption?
A: Our population is growing rapidly and this means that water consumption is also increasing, placing more demand on our current water supplies. Cairns Regional water supplies are not unlimited and the region has experienced periods of lower than average rainfall. By conserving water we can ensure that we have sufficient supplies during the dry season and ensure that environmental flows are maintained in our river systems.
Where does our water come from?
A: Copperlode Falls Dam (Lake Morris) is the major water supply reservoir for the City of Cairns. Water is also sourced from Behana Creek located to the South of the City. To the north Rex Creek supplies Mossman and the Port Douglas area. There are also a number of smaller rurual water supply schemes with their own dedicated water supplies.
What is being done about water supply as our population grows?
A: Cairns Regional Water & Waste is currently investigating two water sources to supplement the current supplies i.e. the Mulgrave River Aquifer and the Barron River.
Why can’t we harvest stormwater?
A: Stormwater can be harvested for reuse for non potable purposes. There are a number of ways to capture and store rainwater from large systems such as via wetlands or urban lakes to domestic rainwater tanks. Rainwater tanks are becoming popular in urban areas particularly where drought conditions are being experienced. Rainwater tanks are also becoming more popular in the region and Cairns Regional Council supports the voluntary installation of rainwater tanks. For new homes and commercial buildings, mandatory water saving requirements apply under the Queensland Development Code.
Can one person really make any difference?
A: Australia has one of the highest per capita water consumption levels in the developed world, despite the fact that Australia is the driest populated continent on earth. Everybody has a responsibility to save water, if future generations are to enjoy a similar standard of living to the one we enjoy now. The cumulative effect of each person doing their bit to conserve water is significant. If each person in the city of Cairns reduced their water consumption by 50 litres per day the total saving would be almost 6.5 million litres per day or 2,400 million litres per annum.
