By tapping into National Water Week, Bundaberg Regional Council is hoping more people will understand the water cycle and the impacts individual actions have.
Council has designed a water map that shows the continuous journey this valuable resource takes.
With foreign objects often finding their way into wastewater treatment plants, Council branch manager water services Narelle D’Amico said many people may not realise the impact their actions have on the water cycle.
“It’s all about recognising the water cycle and the fact that this water that is being treated needs to re-enter that cycle,” Narelle said.
“So being aware that everything’s connected and the decisions you make for how you use the clean water from your tap will impact on what comes back to the treatment plant and what we ultimately put back in the river systems.”
For Council’s water and wastewater team, dealing with blockages at plants and pump stations is a regular occurrence.
Anything from wipes to nappies and even underwear are regularly being flushed down Bundaberg Region toilets.
Pump attendant Wayne Silcox said it wasn’t the most pleasant part of his job.
“Wet wipes, they don’t break down at all,” Wayne said.
“They get all stuck in there and then we have to actually pull the pump apart and take them out.
“It’s not a nice job, a lot of people don’t like doing it, but it’s got to be done.”
Items that don’t break down like wet wipes get caught in pump stations 
Blockages in Council infrastructure can be costly to repair 
Council staff have to remove blockages in pump stations by hand
Council’s water and wastewater portfolio spokesperson, Cr Jason Bartels, said National Water Week was also a great time to think about water conservation.
“Simple things like keeping showers to three to four minutes in duration can make a huge difference,” Cr Bartels said.
“Most people wouldn’t realise that almost one quarter of household water is used in the shower.
“You could even save up to 15,000 litres of water a year if you wait for a full load of washing before turning the machine on.”
Cr Bartels said the week was also a great time to recognise the hard work of Council staff that were on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week to deliver this essential service.
“Our team is committed to providing safe, high quality drinking water to our community,” he said.
“Residents can help us to do that by using water responsibly and ensuring they don’t put anything down the drain that shouldn’t be there.
“That way we can make sure our resources are focused in the right areas.”
For more water tips head to Council’s website and view the Bundaberg water cycle map here.
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