Ipswich Hospital making every drop of water count

Water saving measures in place at Queensland public hospitals will save approximately 800,000 kilolitres of water a 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.”

Mr Robertson said that, depending on rainfall, Ipswich Hospital alone may save up to 380,000 kilolitres of water per year through its initiatives. (1 kilolitre = 1,000 litres)

“The hospital has installed water saving valves and fittings to all taps, basins, showers, urinals and toilet cisterns.

“The installation of four new 45,000 litre water tanks is also an important measure that will allow for extensive harvesting of rainwater off hospital buildings and roadways for use in the hospital’s cooling towers and irrigation.

“These towers current use town water to disperse the heat removed from the main hospital air conditioning system,” he said.

MEDIA: Paul Lynch 3234 1190 or 0417 728 676