Technology helps dilute school’s water bill

A UNIQUE technology has thrust a Noble Park school on to the water-saving radar.
The HydroShare program used to monitor water leakages at Carwatha College is saving the school more than 12 million litres of water and $20,000 in water rates, each year.
HydroShare is a data-logging software program that is inexpensive to purchase, install and use.
It involes data loggers on a water meter that feed information into a central internet portal via email in real time.
Rather than waiting to see consumption in its quarterly water bill, the school gets information instantly.
Water Minister Tim Holding visited Carwatha College last week to inspect the technology.
He said the school had identified a major leak using the smart metering device which allows the school to keep a constant eye on water consumption.
“Installing HydroShare has helped Carwatha College to cut water wastage, save money from water bills and educate students about water saving technologies,” Mr Holding said.
“It’s important that everyone – households, industry and schools – cut back on their water consumption.”
Carwatha College quickly identified a major leak when there was high water consumption at the school during the evening and on weekends and using leak detection devices pin-pointed the exact location of the leaking pipe within the school grounds.
South East Water’s leak detection specialists repaired the leak and are now working to find and repair another leak which could save a further three million litres a year.
Mr Holding praised South East Water for developing the technology and working with over 25 schools to monitor water consumption as part of the program.
“Carwatha College’s success with HydroShare shows that schools and local water authorities are working together to reduce water use,” Mr Holding said.
“The Victorian Government also announced earlier this year that the Top 200 major industrial water users would have HydroShare installed so they could monitor where and when water was being used and make further savings.”