Hundreds of Victorian community housing properties receive free water efficiency upgrades

Hundreds of low-income social housing properties in Melbourne have had their water efficiency improved under a Community Housing Retrofit Program.  The program, run by Yarra Valley Water across the metropolitan region, has fixed thousands of leaky taps, toilets and hot water services across the state.

Since its launch in 2016, the program has helped 783 community housing properties across Victoria save around 86 million litres of water per year and $340,000 per year – or $435 per property per year.

The savings come from reducing water bills by identifying and repairing leaks and the replacement of inefficient fixtures and fittings.

Yarra Valley Water delivers the program in the metropolitan area on behalf of the Victorian Government and South East Water and Greater Western Water.

Over the last 12 months, community housing organisations have saved approximately 17 million litres of water in total – and nearly $68,000 through the program. This is the equivalent of 6.8 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Managing Director Pat McCafferty said the initiative helps people to conserve water and save money on their bills.

“With the rising cost-of-living, the need for retrofit improvements has never been greater, and that is why it is so important to deliver programs like this,” he said. “We understand that many community housing services have limited funds available, and this assistance is aimed at saving water and reducing costs.”

South Port Community Housing Group provides long term, affordable housing and support to single adults who are homeless or in housing crisis. Through the program, the not-for-profit organisation has saved over $1,000 per quarter on its water bill at one of its properties in East Malvern.

Omar Palacios, Community Housing Worker, South Port Community Housing Group said the money saved will go back into the community.

“The Community Housing Retrofit Program provides a valuable service to housing providers and our renters. We’re already seeing the positive impacts for both individual residents, and in the wider community.”

“I’ve had residents come up and thank me and say that they’re really happy with the changes and they look really good. It’s important for our tenants’ wellbeing to see that we’re making improvements to the building, and we can use the money saved to carry out other repairs such as painting.”

“Community Housing faces many challenges and one of the biggest costs is maintenance, so having a comprehensive program like this has been a huge benefit and financial assistance.”

“The work that the program has done is just amazing - 119 leaking or inefficient taps replaced, 14 toilet cisterns replaced with water efficient cisterns and 82 showerheads replaced with 4 star water efficiency showerheads,” Mr Palacios said.

Other retrofit works available under this program include replacing or repairing hot water services, washing machines, dishwashers and additional recommended upgrades up to value of $12,000 per property. 

“It was a really simple process. Yarra Valley Water organised everything – from the audits to the retrofits. All we had to do was let the residents know when the work was expected to be carried out,” Mr Palacios said.

Alison Sloan, Project Officer at Yarra Valley Water, is part of the team which has conducted over 220 water audits across Melbourne this year.

“We’ve worked with a range of organisations from refugee housing and domestic violence shelters to short term housing organisations for people experiencing vulnerability,” she said.

“By making these community properties more water efficient and cheaper to live in, we’re making a real difference to people’s lives and the social housing organisations can use the money saved to make properties more liveable,” Ms Sloan said.

“In addition to the retrofit improvements, we also provide information about our financial support options including flexible payment plans, and help to apply for concessions and utility relief grants,” she said.

The program is supported by the Victorian Government, and is available to groups serviced by Yarra Valley Water, South East Water and Greater Western Water. In regional Victoria, the program is delivered by Barwon Water, Central Highlands Water and Lower Murray Water.