Rich waste water

Adelaide's wealthy don't mind paying fines

people living in Adelaide's wealthiest suburbs top the list of those flouting water use restrictions in South Australia (SA). Violators are prepared to risk fines imposed by water conservation officers deployed to check water abuse. The number of violators rose from seven in 2006-07 to 220 in 2008-09.

In 2007, SA Water, the state-owned utility allowed water conservation officers to issue on the spot fines. "Friendly reminders and warning notices will still be used where we are responding to a call to the water restrictions hotline as we are unable to verify the breach ourselves," said John Ringham, chief operating officer of SA Water.

Most of the 1.5 million customers, supplied water by SA Water, have responded to the calls for reduced water use.State minister for Water Security, Karlene Maywald, said: "In 2008, Adelaide consumed about 137 billion litres of water which is 30 per cent less compared to 2002--a saving of more than 57 billion litres."