« See all comment and opinion

Blame can’t be sprinkled about

16/Jun/2009

By Greg Thomson, Community Newspaper Group editor-in-chief

Comments:

NOTHING lights up the public complaints switchboard quite like street lights burning brightly well after the sun has dawned.

So too for park and public garden sprinklers left gushing for hours on end, even more so if discovered in the midst of a torrential winter downpour.

The powers-that-be who manage the street lighting switches, and those who program the digital clocks that run our city’s irrigation networks, tend to get it right most of the time.

They know that to get it wrong means being publicly condemned as bumblers, fools asleep at the wheel, and wasters of the city’s precious resources.

The level of public fury seems all the more ironic when you consider how many homes waste power and continue to run sprinklers – even after the solid burst of winter rainfall in recent days.

I must confess that I’m no saint here – my wife constantly bemoans my need for every room to be lit at night.

Indeed, it was my guilty act of finally switching off the home irrigation last week that has inspired this column.

I’d been reminded by Water Minister Graham Jacobs’ threat to impose a winter sprinkling ban from July 1 if residents do not heed the warning about wasteful, unnecessary garden watering.

It seems we’re still belting through a ridiculously high 500 million litres of water per week.

The Conservation Council has urged the Government to charge industry more for use of water, citing inefficient practices and a lack of recycling and water re-use.

Sure, industry needs to do its bit, but it is in individual households where water is more likely to be wasted.

The Water Corporation estimates that up to 20 per cent of homes are still irrigating despite the winter rains.

It may be early into the season, but rather than pointing the finger of blame elsewhere, it’s time we got our individual act together.

Bookmark and Share

Share your thoughts in 60 seconds!

Members : login to comment


 

Tuesday 22 May 2012

  • Min 8°C
  • Max 22°C

Wednesday

  • 9 - 21°C

Thursday

  • 8 - 22°C

Most Popular Articles


community digital epaper link

Latest Competitions



Win a share in $20,000 of Coles groceries Go>:


driveway comp

Fuel up with Driveway Go>:



Win a double pass to Bel Ami  Go>:


Win a romantic getaway for two at Fremantle's finest!  Go>:


Win a double pass to the Good Food & Wine show Go>:


Win tickets to FRAGILE  Go>:



Featured Video Clips


2012 RAAF Pearce Air Show promo



Community Newspaper Group Photographer Jon Hewson goes for a spin in a P/C-9A Hawk to help promote the 2012 RAAF Pearce Air Show, held on May 19 and 20. Video, images and editing by Jon Hewson.



Circus performer Brenna Day



Circus performer Brenna Day talks about her career and upcoming performances in the Perth International Burlesque Festival. Video, images and editing by Matthew Poon.


See more videos 

Search
email subscribe linkHBF junior sports hero
Deliver our newspapers linkCommunityPix banner linkSolahart