Queensland public hospitals making every drop of water count

Water saving measures in place at Queensland public hospitals will save approximately 800,000 kilolitres of water per year, Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today.

“Our hospitals are doing their bit to save water as Queensland struggles through the worst drought on record,” he said.

“Some hospitals have already achieved a 15 per cent reduction in their water consumption.

“And more water will be saved as hospitals progressively roll out further innovative water conservation measures through Queensland Health’s Statewide Eco Efficiency Program.”

Mr Robertson said water savings are being achieved through the installation of water-efficient taps, flow restrictors on showers and toilet cisterns, the trial use of waterless urinals, and intensive leak detection and management systems.

“Hospitals are also reducing their take of town water by making extensive use of rainwater and stormwater harvesting for re-use in cooling towers, air conditioning systems and irrigation.

“Some hospitals are using water recovered from renal dialysis and treated through reverse osmosis for cooling towers plus recycled water used to test fire pumps.

“Others are looking at innovative technology to improve the water use efficiency of x-ray equipment, rinse processes and extraction systems.”

The Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and Royal Children’s Hospital at Herston, for example, expect to collectively save at least 186,200 kilolitres of water per year.

“These hospitals have undertaken a range of initiatives to conserve water ranging from changing the flow rates of taps and showers through to recycling water wherever possible,” Mr Robertson said.

“The RBWH has already been able to reduce its water consumption by 15% and with further initiatives expects to increase these savings to 25%.

“Logan Hospital is achieving similar water savings through its efficiency measures and expects to save 32,248 kilolitres of water per year.

“Ipswich Hospital could, depending on rainfall, save up to 380,000 kilolitres of water per year through its initiatives including the installation of four new 45,000 litre water tanks to expand its rainwater harvesting and recycling capabilities.”

Other examples of expected hospital water savings per annum include: Redcliffe Hospital 14,400 kilolitres; Caboolture Hospital 8,096 kilolitres; Nambour Hospital 20,000 kilolitres; Cairns Hospital 105,580 kilolitres; Bundaberg Hospital 8,760 kilolitres; Gladstone Hospital 4,974 kilolitres; Rockhampton Hospital 20,902 kilolitres and Mackay Hospital 12,787 kilolitres.

Mr Robertson said annual water savings would increase further as other hospitals broaden their participation through the Statewide Eco Efficiency Program.

“QueenElizabethIIHospital, The Park at Wacol, ToowoombaHospital, Baillie Henderson, Southern Downs, Roma, St George and MitchellHospitals are all participating and looking at further water saving measures.

“The Gold Coast and Townsville hospitals are also currently collecting water usage data to underpin innovative water saving proposals mooted for their hospitals,” he said.

Scientists at Queensland Health Scientific Services at CoopersPlains are also doing their bit to save an estimated 3,086 kilolitres of water per year.

Building 2 is currently fitted with rainwater storage tanks and the harvested water is pumped to the cooling towers to help reduce the demand on town water supplies.

The site is also fitted with a trade waste pre-treatment system to control the quality of the disposed water before discharge into the municipal sewer system.

NOTE: 1 kilolitre = 1,000 litres.

Media: Paul Lynch 3234 1190 or 0417 728 676