Water Sustainability

Eco-Smart Plumber is an initiative of the Plumbing Industry Association of South Australia Inc to assist the plumbing industry to meet the challenges of water and energy conservation by familiarising them with the issues, regulations, the rebates available to the public and the technological solutions available to improve the sustainability of the community by reducing the demand for water and energy within our homes without compromising lifestyle. Plumbers have a strong social conscience about protecting the community from disease by providing safe potable water and effluent disposal. Equally many plumbers have adopted Eco-Smart plumbing because they believe they can play a significant role in reducing our footprint on the planet and leaving a better world for all of our children. To learn more about Eco-Smart Plumbers and how they can help go to www.eco-smartplumber.com.au

Case Study

Cowell Plumbing & Gas was one of the first to complete the Eco-Smart Plumber training and implement sustainable plumbing practices into their business. They have been operating for five years and are proudly owned and operated by Corey and Elisa Smith. Their workforce includes a 3rd year plumbing apprentice and a plumber’s labourer. Cowell Plumbing & Gas were approached by Eastern Eyre Health & Aged Care regarding the current waste water system in place at the Cowell Community Health & Aged Care Site. The existing evaporation pond needed to be replaced to comply with current SA Health Commission legislation. Cowell Plumbing & Gas installed Biocycle Waste Water Treatment Systems which included two 20,000 litre treatment tanks and a 5,000 litre septic tank for the sludge return. The recycled water has been used to irrigate about 70 trees with a ring of 12 drippers per tree. They manually laid some 2,500 sq m of subsurface irrigation for the large lawn areas around the hospital, doctors’ surgery and hostel. The irrigation system has an automatic pump out so that the sections being watered are done individually as the tanks are pumped out..