Barwon Water has saved almost 4ML of drinking water through a proactive partnership with Australia’s largest co-op housing provider.
Barwon Water has carried out a range of water-saving improvements at more than 40 properties owned by Common Equity Housing Limited (CEHL).
CEHL offers long-term secure housing to people with low-income backgrounds who may find full market rent unaffordable.
A total of 42 properties across the Geelong region, from Corio through to Torquay and Ocean Grove, were upgraded across the 2024–25 financial year.
Initiatives included the installation of new tapware and fittings in kitchens, bathrooms, showers, laundries and gardens; the repair and replacement of leaking toilet cisterns; showerhead replacements; and leak detection and repairs.
The partnership has saved 3.83ML of drinking water and helped tenants avoid $9382 worth of water charges in 2024–25.
The improvements were delivered via Barwon Water’s Community Housing Retrofit Program (CHRP).
Jointly funded by Barwon Water and the Victorian Government, the free program arranges a plumber to repair leaks and replace inefficient water-related fittings, fixtures, and appliances.
Funding has been secured to continue delivering the CHRP in 2025–26.
Barwon Water General Manager Planning, Delivery and Environment, Seamus Butcher, said a variety of relatively small changes could make a big difference to water savings.
“By installing new taps, fixing leaks or upgrading toilets from single flush to dual flush, the efficiency of properties can be vastly improved,” Mr Butcher said.
“We’re committed to actively supporting our customers, keeping bills affordable and helping them to be sustainable with their water use.
“Programs such as this also strengthen our water efficiency and help to secure supplies for our growing region.”
As the Sustainability Director of CEHL’s Phoenix Co-op in Geelong, Gabrielle Griffin understands the value of making every drop of water count, especially during dry conditions.
“It’s one of those unseen things – leaks and drips from old or inefficient fixings,” she said.
“These savings will benefit the members of our co-op. As a co-op director, I can see how this will save money on less plumbing in the long run.”
Common Equity Housing Limited Managing Director, Liz Thomas, said the partnership supported the co-ops and members in saving water and money, and contributed to CEHL’s own Environmental, Sustainability and Governance goals.
“CEHL is committed to actions that reduce our ecological footprint and housing affordability, and this partnership proves that both can go hand in hand,” Ms Thomas said.
The CHRP forms part of a wider range of water efficiency initiatives, which saved a total of 263 million litres during 2024–25.
Barwon Water has a longer-term aim to save an extra one billion litres of drinking water in the five years to 2028, by partnering with customers.
