BASIX Certificate Assessment: Nominated Water Efficiency ... · Hunter Water Corporation (HWC) has...

BASIX Certificate Assessment:

Nominated Water EfficiencyMeasures within the Hunter WaterArea of Operations

December 2012

BASIX Certificate Assessment │ii

In February 2012, a Data Sharing Agreement between the State of NSW acting throughThe Department of Planning & Infrastructure, and Hunter Water Corporation, wascommenced with respect to a BASIX Water Consumption Assessment Project.This report addresses Task 1 of the Data Sharing Agreement.

DisclaimerThe analysis and interpretations presented in this report is based on data received from theDepartment of Planning & Infrastructure. As such, Hunter Water has no control or warrantyover the quality of the datasets and any subsequent influence on the analysis.

It should be noted, when cited in this report, the comparative datasets for NSW, RegionalNSW, and Sydney, represent three years of certificate data (2005/06 to 2007/08) comparedwith over six years of certificate data assessed for the Hunter (2005/06 to 2011/12).Therefore, presented comparisons between these supply areas should not be viewed as‘performance evaluations‘, rather, draw attention to similar, disparate, ongoing and emergingtrends between the assessments conducted post-BASIX implementation.

In addition, it should be noted this report was compiled during the 2011/12 financial year andas such, Hunter Certificates for this year are incomplete, representing approximately 3months of certificate data. It was decided to include this data as it represented a period ofsufficient length to establish trends consistent with pre-2011/12 records when disaggregatedby financial year. Tabulated data throughout this report may produce results +/- 1% due torounding.

Acknowledgements

Hunter Water Corporation wishes to acknowledge the Sustainability Branch of TheDepartment of Planning & Infrastructure, for support in establishing the Data SharingAgreement, provision of raw BASIX certificate data, and subsequent assistance with queriesregarding the dataset.

BASIX Certificate Assessment │iii

Table of Contents

Disclaimer ............................................................................................................................................ii

Acknowledgements ...........................................................................................................................ii

Table of Contents .............................................................................................................. iii

List of Figures.................................................................................................................... iv

List of Tables ...................................................................................................................... v

Definition of Terms ............................................................................................................ vi

Executive summary .......................................................................................................... vii

1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1

2 Hunter Water BASIX Certificates................................................................................... 1

2.1 Study Area .................................................................................................................................1

2.2 Monitoring Period.......................................................................................................................2

2.3 Dataset Refinement ...................................................................................................................2

2.4 BASIX Certificate Distribution ....................................................................................................3

3 Dwelling Details.............................................................................................................. 3

3.1 Site Area ....................................................................................................................................3

3.2 Floor Area ..................................................................................................................................4

3.3 Bedroom Number .......................................................................................................................5

4 Dwelling Water Benchmark ........................................................................................... 6

4.1 Methodology ...............................................................................................................................6

4.2 Water Score and Predicted Water Consumption .......................................................................7

4.3 Alternative Water Supply............................................................................................................7

5 Alternative Water Connections ..................................................................................... 8

5.1 All Sources .................................................................................................................................8

5.2 Rainwater ...................................................................................................................................9

5.3 Stormwater...............................................................................................................................11

5.4 Greywater.................................................................................................................................12

5.5 Private Dam Water...................................................................................................................12

5.6 Reticulated Recycled Water.....................................................................................................13

6 Water Efficient Fixtures ............................................................................................... 13

Appendix A – Combined LGA Data ................................................................................. 16

Appendix B – Disaggregated LGA Data .......................................................................... 20

BASIX Certificate Assessment │iv

Figures

1 Hunter Water Area of Operations ..............................................................................................2

2 Comparison of Site Areas detailed in BASIX certificates for the Hunter Water

supply area, Sydney Water supply area, and Regional NSW ...................................................4

3 Comparison of Floor Areas detailed in BASIX certificates for the Hunter Water

supply area, Sydney Water supply area, and Regional NSW ..................................................5

4 Comparison of bedroom numbers detailed in BASIX certificates for the Hunter

Water supply area, Sydney Water supply area, and Regional NSW.........................................6

5 Comparison of alternative water sources detailed in BASIX certificates for the

Hunter supply area, and the NSW state average ......................................................................8

6 Nominated end-uses serviced by alternative water sources for the

Hunter supply area, and the NSW state average ......................................................................8

7 Rainwater use as nominated on BASIX certificates for the Hunter supply area

and the NSW state average.......................................................................................................9

8 Distribution of rainwater tank volumes as nominated on BASIX certificates

for the Hunter supply area .........................................................................................................9

9 Rainwater tank volumes nominated in the Hunter, NSW Regional, Sydney,

and NSW certificates ...............................................................................................................10

10 Rainwater tank roof catchment areas nominated in Hunter certificates ..................................10

11 Comparison of stormwater use as nominated on BASIX certificates for the

Hunter Water supply area and the NSW state average ..........................................................11

12 Distribution of stormwater tank volumes as nominated on BASIX certificates

for the Hunter supply area .......................................................................................................11

13 Comparison of greywater use as nominated on BASIX certificates for the

Hunter Water supply area and the NSW state average ..........................................................12

14 Private Dam use as nominated on BASIX certificates for the Hunter Water supply area .......13

15 Water efficient toilets nominated in Hunter Water supply area and NSW certificates.............14

16 Water efficient kitchen taps nominated in Hunter Water supply area and NSW certificates...14

17 Water efficient bathroom taps nominated in Hunter Water supply area and

NSW certificates ......................................................................................................................15

18 Water efficient showerhead fixtures nominated in Hunter Water supply area

and NSW certificates ...............................................................................................................15

BASIX Certificate Assessment │v

Tables

1 Distribution of BASIX certificates for single residential Hunter dwellings by year

and Local Government Area......................................................................................................3

2 Distribution of Site Area for the Hunter Water supply area (% BASIX certificates) ...................4

3 Distribution of Floor Area for the Hunter Water supply area (% BASIX certificates) .................5

4 Number of bedrooms with corresponding occupancy rate(s) and dwelling water

benchmark for single developments in the Hunter Water supply area......................................6

5 Breakdown by LGA, of predicted water consumption factors in the Hunter Water

supply area.................................................................................................................................7

Quality Information

Date Revision Author Reviewed by

10/08/12 Preliminary Draft Dr A Martin E Turner, A Killingly, T McClymont, D Grace

24/08/12 Draft for Comment Dr A Martin T.Miller (DP&I), A. Reiz (DP&I), S.Wilson (DP&I)

11/10/12 Issued Final Dr A Martin

BASIX Certificate Assessment │vi

Definition of Terms

Alternative Water: water that is not mains-supplied potable water.

Rainwater: refers to water discharged from non-trafficable roof areas within adevelopmwent site.

Stormwater: refers to water collected from trafficable surfaces, including paved orground surfaces.

Greywater: is wastewater not contaminated by human excrement, includingwastewater from a bath, shower, hand basin and laundry.

Reticulated refers to water that is supplied by a water utility or central authority viaAlternative Water: a reticulated system to individual lots for non-potable use.

Conditioned the total floor area of the dwelling, excluding:Floor Area: a) floor area that is not fully enclosed;

b) bathrooms (but not ensuites) and laundries, with a ventilationopening; and voids, store rooms, garages and carparks.

Unconditioned the total floor area of all bathrooms (not including ensuites) andFloor Area: laundries, with a ventilation opening.

A door leading outside from a laundry or bathroom can be considered aventilation opening.

Source - https://www.basix.nsw.gov.au/help/Using_the_BASIX_tool/basix_definitions.htm

BASIX Certificate Assessment │vii

Executive summary

On the 1st July 2004, the NSW Government’s Department of Planning introduced theBuilding Sustainability Index (BASIX), a sustainable planning measure to mandate potablewater and energy savings measures in residential developments of Sydney localgovernment areas (except Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury and Wollondilly). On the 1st July2005, the BASIX scheme was expanded to the whole of NSW. BASIX is implementedthrough an interactive online assessment tool which requires new homes to achieve (in thecase of the Hunter Region) a mandatory 40% reduction in potable water use, whencompared to the average pre-BASIX residential consumption in NSW of 247 litres perperson per day (commonly referred to as ‘Benchmark consumption’).

Applicants for development are able to select from a wide range of options such as rainwatertanks, other alternative water supply, water-saving fixtures and indigenous/low water useplants for gardens, in order to meet the water saving target

Hunter Water has entered into a Data Sharing Agreement with the NSW Department ofPlanning & Infrastructure (DP&I), to conduct a BASIX Water Consumption AssessmentProject. This report analyses BASIX certificate trends from proposed single residentialbuildings within the Hunter Water supply area. This involved the examination of varioussite/dwelling characteristics, including block size, floor area, bedroom number and predictedoccupancy, as well as alternative water sources, end-use connections, and nomination ofwater efficient fixtures as indicated by BASIX certificates. Where possible, Hunter Watercertificate information presented in this report is compared with published values from similarDP&I monitoring programmes conducted across Sydney, regional NSW, and all of NSW*.

Key findings from the assessment of BASIX certificates for the Hunter Water supply areainclude;

average Dwelling Water Benchmark of 800 L/day;

average Dwelling Predicted Consumption of 454 L/day;

average Water Score of 43.5%;

smaller floor area (average of 197m2) on larger scale blocks, compared with Sydneycertificates which indicated larger floor areas (average of 241m2) on smaller size lots;

average bedroom number of 3.9 (Regional NSW: 3.7, Sydney: 4.2)

97% of certificates indicating rainwater as an alternative water source, 1% utilisinggreywater, and less than 1% nominating stormwater;

alternative water supplies connected to toilet and laundry end uses were generallymore prevalent in the lower Hunter (98% and 91% respectively), than equivalentNSW connections (90% and 76% respectively); and

an increasing trend in the use of high rated water efficient fixtures.

* BASIX Single Dwelling Outcomes 05-08 Ongoing Monitoring Program Report

BASIX Certificate Assessment │viii

1 Introduction

Hunter Water Corporation (HWC) has been provided with BASIX certificate data for all newsingle residential developments within the Hunter Water supply area from 2005/06 through2011/12. Hunter Water’s assessment of these certificates was conducted in a similar mannerto previous assessments completed by Rous Water1, and the DP&I2. In alignment withprevious Sydney and Regional NSW assessments, the privacy of individual Hunter Watersupply area certificate information is maintained through nominated water efficiencymeasures being presented at an aggregated level.

This report provides comparisons between single residential BASIX certificates for theHunter Water supply area (hereafter termed ‘Hunter’), with equivalent certificates assessedacross regional NSW (hereafter termed ‘Regional NSW’), the Sydney Water supply area(hereafter termed ‘Sydney’), and across all of NSW (hereafter termed ‘NSW’), sourced fromthe then Department of Planning’s report “BASIX Single Dwelling Outcomes 05-08 OngoingMonitoring Program”2.

2 Hunter Water BASIX Certificates

2.1 Study Area

The study area for the review of BASIX certificate data is for the Hunter Water serviced area.This includes :-

Cessnock City Council; Dungog Council; Lake Macquarie City Council; Maitland City Council; Newcastle City Council; and Port Stephens Council.

The area is shown figuratively in Figure 1.

1 http://www.rouswater.nsw.gov.au/page.asp?f=RES-OCN-24-17-802 https://www.basix.nsw.gov.au/docs/monitoring/2005-2008/05_08_BASIX_outcomes.pdf

BASIX Certificate Assessment │ 2

Figure 1. Hunter Water Area of Operations (Figurative only).

2.2 Monitoring Period

BASIX certificates for the Hunter Water serviced area have been reviewed from the period2005-2006 to 2011-2012. However, the data for the 2011-2012 year is not a complete dataset. Hunter Certificates for this year are incomplete, representing approximately 3 months ofcertificate data.

2.3 Dataset Refinement

The original dataset provided by the DP&I included 13,517 BASIX certificates. A subsequentdata ‘cleaning exercise’, which involved the removal of certificates which were found to beduplicate records (based on certificate number), comprised an erroneous Local GovernmentArea (LGA), or declared a dwelling type other than single residential, refined the number ofassessable certificates evaluated in this report to 11,027. It is acknowledged that thecleaning exercise may have inadvertently discarded legitimate projects, and retained ameasure of noncompliant certificates, however, the error factor is considered to be minimal.


The comparative dataset for NSW consisted of 59,574 certificates (37% for Sydney; 63% forRegional NSW)3.

2.4 BASIX Certificate Distribution

The distribution of BASIX certificates within the Hunter Water supply area, comprising sixLGA’s, are listed in Table 1 below. Lake Macquarie had a comparable distribution ofcertificates to that for Maitland, whilst the LGAs of Cessnock, Newcastle and Port Stephenswere each responsible for somewhat fewer certificates than either of those two LGA’s butsimilar to each other in terms of totals and distribution of certificate numbers.

Table 1. Distribution of BASIX certificates for single residential Hunter dwellings by year and Local Government Area.

Local GovernmentArea

Financial Year

05-06 06-07 07-08 08-09 09-10 10-11 11-12^ TOTALCessnock 289 241 298 204 297 266 94 1689Dungog 31 26 34 28 29 42 8 198Lake Macquarie 408 401 456 412 522 583 116 2898Maitland 404 336 335 320 515 777 241 2928Newcastle 211 200 257 207 310 371 80 1636Port Stephens 263 235 250 224 284 361 61 1678TOTAL 1606 1439 1630 1395 1957 2400 600 11027

^ comprises 3 months of certificate data only

3 Dwelling Details

3.1 Site Area

The BASIX online assessment tool defines site area as ‘the area of land on which theproposed development is to be carried out’. The distribution of site area nominated onHunter certificates is compared with Sydney and Regional NSW certificates in Figure 2.

Figure 2 demonstrates the profile of Hunter certificates to be more closely aligned toRegional NSW than that of Sydney site area distributions, where development on smallerallotments is more prevalent. The median site area of Hunter certificates was 709m2 with43% categorised within the 601 - 900m2 range, compared with certificate medians of 583m2

and 853m2 for Sydney and Regional NSW respectively.

3 https://www.basix.nsw.gov.au/docs/monitoring/2005-2008/05_08_BASIX_outcomes.pdf


Figure 2. Comparison of Site Areas detailed in BASIX certificates for the Hunter Water supply area, Sydney Watersupply area, and Regional NSW.

Table 2 provides a breakdown of site areas nominated in Hunter certificates by financialyear, including the average annual site area median (m2). A trend in decreasing block sizeover time is evident, with the median site area for Hunter developments falling from 760m2

when BASIX was first implemented, down to 665m2 during the 2011/12 financial year.

Table 2. Distribution of Site Area for the Hunter Water supply area (% BASIX certificates).

Site area (m2) Financial Year05-06 06-07 07-08 08-09 09-10 10-11 11-12* 2005-2012^

1-300 3% 2% 2% 2% 3% 3% 3% 3%301-600 25% 26% 25% 26% 23% 27% 30% 26%601-900 38% 44% 40% 42% 46% 46% 43% 43%901-1200 12% 10% 10% 11% 10% 9% 10% 10%1201-1500 3% 1% 2% 3% 2% 2% 2% 2%>1500 19% 16% 21% 17% 15% 13% 12% 16%

Site area median (m2) 760 719 740 724 703 679 665 709

* comprises 3 months of certificate data only^ illustrated in Figure 2

3.2 Floor Area

The BASIX online assessment tool requires applicants to nominate a value for bothconditioned and unconditioned floor areas (m2) of proposed developments (to evaluateenergy efficiency savings). For the purpose of this assessment, and to allow comparison ofdata with prior investigations, the Total Floor Area (conditioned + unconditioned) as derivedfrom Hunter certificates is presented here.

Figure 3 shows the floor area distributions of Hunter certificates are similar to the RegionalNSW profile, and differ distinctly from distributions nominated for Sydney, which favouredlarger floor areas in comparison. The average floor area of Hunter certificates at 197m2 wasconsistent with Regional NSW (200m2), whilst Sydney certificates averaged the moregenerous floor area of 241m2.


Figure 3. Comparison of Floor Areas detailed in BASIX certificates for the Hunter Water supply area, Sydney Watersupply area, and Regional NSW.

Table 3 provides a breakdown of floor areas (m2) nominated in Hunter certificates byfinancial year, including annual averages. In recent years, a trend has emerged showingmore developments within the 101-200m2 range, and fewer developments within the 201-400m2 category, when compared to previous years under the BASIX scheme.

Table 3. Distribution of Floor Area for the Hunter Water supply area (% BASIX certificates).

Floor area (m2) Financial Year05-06 06-07 07-08 08-09 09-10 10-11 11-12* 2005-2012^

0-100 4% 3% 4% 3% 4% 4% 4% 4%101-200 52% 53% 50% 54% 60% 61% 59% 56%201-300 36% 37% 38% 36% 31% 30% 30% 34%301-400 6% 6% 7% 6% 4% 4% 5% 5%401-500 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1%>501 1% 0% 1% 0% 0% 0% 1% 0%Floor area average (m2) 203.5 200.5 205.7 200.8 191.2 188.0 196.1 197.1

* comprises 3 months of certificate data only^ illustrated in Figure 3

3.3 Bedroom Number

Differences in bedroom number nominated in certificates for the Hunter, Sydney andRegional NSW are illustrated in Figure 4 below. Whilst 4 bedroom homes were clearlydominant across all supply areas, one quarter of Sydney certificates elected a 5 bedroomdwelling, which was more than double the equivalent for both Hunter (11%) and RegionalNSW (12%) certificates. Similarly, proposed developments nominating six or more bedroomswere more than three times as frequent in Sydney certificates, than other supply areascompared in this assessment.


Figure 4. Comparison of bedroom numbers detailed in BASIX certificates for the Hunter Water supply area, SydneyWater supply area, and Regional NSW.

(Appendix Table 6)

4. Dwelling Water Benchmark

4.1 Methodology

BASIX determines the likely number of residents within a dwelling by using its location andnumber of bedrooms, in conjunction with Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) occupancydata. The Hunter Water supply area is located entirely within statistical division 110 (Hunter),with the range of predicted occupancy across Hunter certificates detailed in Table 4. TheDwelling Water Benchmark is determined by multiplying the occupancy rate by the percapita pre-BASIX average water consumption of 247.5 L/person/day (equivalent to 90,340L/person/year4), sourced from 2001 ABS census data.

Table 4. Bedroom number, occupancy rate, and dwelling water benchmark for single developments in the HunterWater supply area.

No. ofbedrooms

Occupancy(persons)

Dwelling WaterBenchmark

(L/dwelling/day)% of Total

Certificates

1 1.498 370.9 1%

2 1.857 to 1.868 459.7 to 462.2 3%

3 2.511 to 2.616 621.4 to 647.5 19%

4 3.184 to 3.366 787.9 to 833.0 64%

5 3.565 to 3.931 882.2 to 972.8 11%

≥6 3.565 to 3.931 882.2 to 972.8 2%

4 https://www.basix.nsw.gov.au/docs/Benchmarking_BASIX.pdf


4.2 Water Score and Predicted Water Consumption

The predicted water consumption of proposed dwellings is determined using 2001 ABSoccupancy data, in conjunction with alternative water sources and water efficiency measuresnominated using the online BASIX assessment tool. The percentage difference between theper capita state average ‘Benchmark’, and a dwelling’s predicted water consumption, isknown as the BASIX “Water Score”5 This represents the reduction in consumption of mains-supplied potable water. The target Water Score within the Hunter Water supply area must be≥40% under the BASIX scheme. This is equivalent to a water usage reduction ofapproximately 30% for new Hunter Water customers compared with existing, as averagewater usage in the Hunter pre-BASIX was ~75 kL/person/year6 (i.e. lower than the stateaverage of ~90 kL/person/year).

Table 5 provides disaggregation of LGA’s within the Hunter Water supply area, withcorresponding averages for Bedroom number, Occupancy, Water Benchmark, PredictedDwelling Consumption, and Water Score. The average BASIX Water Score for the LGA’s ofCessnock (45.9%) and Dungog (56.4%) are noticeably greater than other LGA’s for theHunter supply area. The lack of mains water service to areas within these two LGA’s isconsidered the major contributing factor to the elevated Water Scores.

Table 5. Breakdown by LGA, of predicted water consumption factors in the Hunter Water supply area.

LocalGovernment

AreaNo. of

CertificatesAvg no. ofbedrooms

Avg BASIXoccupancy(persons)

AvgDwelling

WaterBenchmark

(L/d)

AvgPredicted

WaterConsumption

(L/d)

Avg BASIXWater

Score (%)

Cessnock 1689 3.8 3.2 782 425 45.9

Dungog 198 3.7 3.1 768 334 56.4

Lake Macquarie 2898 3.9 3.3 812 469 42.3

Maitland 2928 4.0 3.3 819 471 42.5

Newcastle 1636 3.7 3.1 776 440 43.4

Port Stephens 1678 3.9 3.2 790 453 42.8

All LGA's 11027 3.9 3.2 800 454 43.5

4.3 Alternative Water Supply

The Department of Planning’s ‘BASIX Single Dwelling Outcomes 05-08’ report states thatapproximately 98% of NSW certificates committed to an alternative water supply, which wascomparable to certificates assessed for the Hunter, with 99.9% indicating connection to analternative water supply. The most popular option selected by 97% of Hunter certificates wasrainwater tanks, with the second most popular being reticulated recycled water atapproximately 3%.

Figure 5 illustrates the popularity of rainwater tanks with 95% of Hunter certificates indicatingthis option as the sole alternative supply source, compared to the state average of 85%. The

5 https://www.basix.nsw.gov.au/information/water_target.jsp6 Hunter Water Environmental Performance Indicators Report, 2011-12


frequency of selection for multiple alternative sources was more popular across the state at8% of certificates, compared with only 2% for the Hunter supply area.

Figure 5. Comparison of alternative water sources selected in BASIX certificates for the Hunter supply area, and theNSW state average.

(Appendix Table 7)

5. Alternative Water Connections

5.1 All Sources

Figure 6 demonstrates the use of alternative water for Garden connections was comparablebetween certificates for the Hunter supply area (99%), and across NSW (98%). Huntercertificates revealed alternative water supplies connected to Toilet and Laundry end useswere more frequent (98% and 91% respectively), than equivalent NSW connections (90%and 76% respectively). Hunter certificates also nominated alternative water supply for HotWater use (6%), Pool use (2%), and All of House connections (5%).

Figure 6. Nominated end-uses serviced by alternative water sources for the Hunter supply area, and the NSW stateaverage. NSW data not available for Hot Water, Pool/Spa, & All of House connections.

(Appendix Table 8)


5.2 Rainwater

Figure 7 shows rainwater tank connections as nominated in Hunter certificates, was equalfor Garden and Toilet end uses (95%), and slightly lower for Laundry (91%). Equivalentconnections for NSW were less frequent, in particular Laundry use, with no more than 76%of certificates nominating connection. Hunter certificates also indicated rainwater connectionto Hot Water (6%), All of House (5%), and Pool (2%).

Figure 7. Rainwater use as nominated on BASIX certificates for the Hunter supply area and the NSW state average.

(Appendix Table 9)

The median rainwater tank volume nominated in Hunter certificates was 4,200L, with anaverage volume of 6,109L. Figure 8 shows close to half of all certificates indicating arainwater tank, selected a volume within the 3,001 – 5,000L size range.

Figure 8. Distribution of rainwater tank volumes as nominated on BASIX certificates for the Hunter supply area.

(Appendix Table 10)


The comparison of rainwater tank volumes between certificates assessed for the Hunter,Sydney, Regional NSW and NSW, is illustrated in Figure 9. Considerable differences areobserved between supply areas for tank sizes greater than 10,000L, with NSW Regionalcertificates three times more likely to nominate a tank volume >10,000L compared tocertificates for the Hunter and Sydney supply areas. Tank volumes categorised within the3,001 – 5,000L range dominated selections for each supply area with 37% of certificates forSydney, NSW Regional, and NSW, and 49% of certificates within the Hunter supply area.

Figure 9. Rainwater tank volumes nominated in the Hunter, NSW Regional, Sydney, and NSW certificates.

The total roof catchment area (m2), along with roof catchment area diverted to rainwater tankstorage, was assessed for Hunter BASIX certificates nominating a rainwater tankconnection. Figure 10 shows nearly one third of certificates indicated a total roof catchmentarea between 201-250m2. Furthermore, 70% of nominated rainwater tanks were suppliedfrom a roof catchment area less than or equal to 250m2, which often represented part of a

Figure 10. Total & diverted roof catchment areas for dwellings nominating connection to a rainwater tank (RWT).

(Appendix Table 11)


Dwelling’s total catchment area (as captured in the 0-50m2 to 151-200m2 ranges of Fig 10).

5.3 Stormwater

Fifty eight certificates in the Hunter supply area (0.5%) indicated a connection serviced bystormwater. The comparison of Hunter certificates with NSW certificates is shown in Figure11 below. Nominations for Garden use were more frequent in the Hunter (90%), than NSW(81%), and whilst connection to Laundry use was comparable between supply areas(~12%), Toilet use was marginally higher for NSW certificates (21%), than for Huntercertificates (17%).

Figure 11. Comparison of stormwater use as nominated on BASIX certificates for the Hunter Water supply area andthe NSW state average.

(Appendix Table 12)

Figure 12 illustrates stormwater tank volumes nominated in Hunter certificates, with 48 of the58 certificates (83%) indicating a stormwater tank ≤10,000L in size. Tank volumes ≤2,000Lwere the most frequently selected, comprising 36% of Hunter certificates nominatingstormwater use. The average tank volume was 6,497L with a median volume of 3,750L.

Figure 12. Distribution of stormwater tank volumes as nominated on BASIX certificates for the Hunter supply area.

(Appendix Table 13)


5.4 Greywater

Figure 13 compares greywater use nominated in Hunter certificates and NSW certificates. Atotal of 130 Hunter certificates indicated greywater as an alternative water source, with 93%of connections to Garden use, 16% Toilet, and 6% Laundry. These proportions werecomparable with NSW greywater certificates which indicate 96%, 17% and 7% for respectiveGarden, Toilet and Laundry connections.

Figure 13. Comparison of greywater use as nominated on BASIX certificates for the Hunter Water supply area and theNSW state average.

(Appendix Table 14)

The Resources section of the BASIX website7 provides information on the two types ofgreywater systems being used, and the differences between them as summarised below;

greywater diversion systems; which collect and reuse water from the bathroomand/or laundry; and

greywater treatment systems; which can be used to collect water from bathroom,laundry and kitchen, prior to treatment and reuse.

Treated greywater is permitted for surface irrigation, toilet and washing machineconnections, whilst diverted greywater is to be used for sub-surface irrigation only. Of the130 Hunter certificates indicating greywater as an alternative water source, 58% nominateda greywater diversion system, and 42% greywater treatment.

5.5 Private Dam Water

Fifty four Hunter certificates (0.5%) indicated the use of a private dam as an alternativewater source. As Figure 14 shows, the assessment of certificates specified 78% of

7 https://www.basix.nsw.gov.au/information/resources.jsp


connections for Garden use, 7% for Toilet, and 0% for Laundry. Of the 54 Hunter certificates,9 failed to indicate an end use (database field entry blank) and only one certificatenominated more than one end use connection (Garden & Toilet).

Figure 14. Private Dam use as nominated on BASIX certificates for the Hunter Water supply area.

(Appendix Table 14)

5.6 Reticulated Recycled Water

Both the Farley South and Chisholm schemes, located within the Maitland LocalGovernment Area, are registered with BASIX as reticulated recycled water schemes(effective 03 April 2008), and available for selection using the online tool. A total of 320certificates for the Hunter supply area nominated inclusion within either the ‘Farley South’ or‘Chisholm’ reticulated recycled water schemes. The certificates propose connections for100% of Garden and Toilet use, and 23% for Laundry use.

Due to slower than expected rates of growth in these development areas, recycled water isyet to be provided to dwellings within the abovementioned schemes.

6. Water Efficient Fixtures

Available selections for water efficient fixtures using the online BASIX tool include those fortoilets, kitchen/bathroom taps, and showerheads. Since the inception of BASIX, a number ofchanges to the online assessment tool relating to fixture efficiency rating schemes havebeen employed8. In summary, former “A-rating” schemes for water-using fixtures werereplaced with “star” ratings, effective as of 01/07/06. In addition, as of July 2010, the BASIXonline tool requests users specify the water flow rate of shower fixtures from three new

8 https://www.basix.nsw.gov.au/docs/Schedule_of_changes_to_the_BASIX_tool.pdf


options (see Figure 18). Each of the new shower fixture options still encompass a 3-starefficiency rating.

Figures 15 through 18 illustrate the relative proportion of nominated water efficient Toilet,Kitchen, Bathroom, and Showerhead fixtures assessed for the Hunter supply area. Theyreveal a growing trend in the use of more efficient fixtures over the course of the monitoringperiod in each class. Certificates for NSW were generally found to nominate a higherproportion of efficient fixtures when compared to Hunter certificates during the equivalenttime frame. The comparison of Hunter and NSW certificate information for bathroom (Fig.17) and showerhead (Fig. 18) fixtures is not presented due to lack of availability of data.

Figure 15. Water efficient toilets nominated in Hunter Water supply area and NSW certificates.

(Appendix Table 16)

Figure 16. Water efficient kitchen taps nominated in Hunter Water supply area and NSW certificates.

(Appendix Table 17)


Figure 17. Water efficient bathroom taps nominated in Hunter Water supply area.

(Appendix Table 18)

Figure 17 shows an increasing trend in the uptake of efficient bathroom tap fixtures rated ‘4-star and above’ Some fixtures purchased before 1 July 2006 may be rated with the 'A’ rating'system, instead of the 'star' rated system which is used in the current version of BASIX.Subsequently, certificate data for bathroom tap fixtures nominated in the 05/06 financial yearhave been omitted from this report.

Figure 18. Water efficient showerhead fixtures nominated in Hunter Water supply area.

(Appendix Table 19)

Appendix A – Combined LGA data│ 16

Appendix A – Combined LGA Data

Table 6 – Number of Bedrooms

No. of Bedrooms No. ofCertificates

% of TotalCertificates Occupancy (persons)

Dwelling WaterBenchmark

(L/dwelling/day)

1 76 1% 1.498 370.8732 351 3% 1.857 to 1.868 459.716 to 462.2343 2078 19% 2.511 to 2.616 621.394 to 647.5214 7091 64% 3.184 to 3.366 787.947 to 832.9865 1253 11% 3.565 to 3.931 882.233 to 972.844

≥6 178 2% 3.565 to 3.931 882.233 to 972.844

Table 7 – Frequency of Alternative Water Supply Selection

Alternative Supply Hunter 2005-2012 NSW 2005-2008Rainwater only 95% 85%Stormwater only 0% 0%Greywater only 0% 0%Private Dam only 0% 0%Reticulated Recycled only 3% 5%Multiple Sources 2% 8%No Alternative Sources 0% 2%

Table 8 – Frequency of Alternative Water Use

Connection Hunter 2005-2012 NSW 2005-2008Garden 99% 98%Toilet 98% 90%Laundry 91% 76%Hot Water 6% Not AvailableAll of House 5% Not AvailablePool 2% Not AvailableSpa 0% Not Available

Table 9 – Rainwater Tank Connections

Connection Hunter 2005-2012 NSW 2005-2008Garden 95% 94%Toilet 95% 89%Laundry 91% 78%Hot Water 6% 15%All of House 5% 15%Pool 2% Not AvailableSpa 0% Not Available


Table 10 – Rainwater Tank Volume

Volume (L) Hunter 2005-20120 - 2,000 5%2,001 - 3,000 30%3,001 - 5,000 49%5,001 - 10,000 11%10,001 - 50,000 5%> 50,000 1%

Table 11 – Rainwater Tank Roof Catchment Areas

Roof Area (m2) Total RoofCatchment Area

Roof AreaDiverted to

Rainwater Tank0 - 50 0% 1%51 - 100 1% 9%101 - 150 4% 19%151 - 200 12% 19%201 - 250 30% 22%251 - 300 23% 15%301 - 350 15% 8%351 - 400 7% 4%401 - 450 3% 2%451 - 500 2% 1%>500 2% 1%

Table 12 – Stormwater Connections

Connection Hunter 2005-2012 NSW 2005-2008Garden 90% 81%Toilet 17% 21%Laundry 12% 13%

Table 13 – Stormwater Tank Volume

Volume (L) Hunter 2005-20120 - 2,000 L 36%2,001 - 3,000 L 12%3,001 - 5,000 L 17%5,001 - 10,000 L 17%10,001 - 50,000 L 17%> 50,000 L 0%


Table 14 – Greywater Connections

Greywater Hunter 2005-2012 NSW 2005-2008Garden 93% 96%Toilet 16% 17%Laundry 6% 7%

Table 15 – Private Dam Connections

Connection Hunter 2005-2012Garden 78%Toilet 7%Laundry 0%

Table 16 – Water Efficient Fixtures: Toilet

Toilet Hunter Water Supply Area NSW05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 05/06 06/07 07/08

≥4 Star 8% 14% 13% 15% 20% 29% 35% 17% 27% 27%3 Star 90% 85% 85% 84% 79% 70% 65% 79% 71% 71%

<3 Star 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 0% 3% 2% 2%Rating notprovided 1% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% n/a n/a n/a

Table 17 – Water Efficient Fixtures: Kitchen Tap

Kitchen Tap Hunter Water Supply Area NSW05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 05/06 06/07 07/08

≥4 Star 7% 8% 13% 14% 20% 26% 30% 13% 25% 29%3 Star 81% 91% 87% 86% 80% 74% 70% 79% 75% 71%

<3 Star 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 9% 0% 0%Rating notprovided 12% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% n/a n/a n/a

Table 18 – Water Efficient Fixtures: Bathroom Tap

Bathroom Tap Hunter Water Supply Area05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12

Rating not provided 12% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%3 Star 0% 91% 90% 89% 84% 78% 71%4 Star 88% 9% 10% 11% 16% 22% 29%


Table 19 – Water Efficient Fixtures: Showerhead

Showerhead Hunter Water Supply Area05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12

Rating not provided 1% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%3 Star 99% 100% 100% 100% 100% 6% 0%> 4.5 but <= 6 L/min n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 14% 16%> 6 but <= 7.5 L/min n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 8% 12%>7.5 but <= 9 L/min n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 72% 72%

Appendix B – Disaggregated LGA data │ 20

Appendix B – Disaggregated LGA Data

Table 19 – Rainwater Tanks: Connection Distribution

LGACertificates

Nominating aRainwater Tank

Garden Toilet Laundry HotWater

All ofHouse Pool Spa

Cessnock 1,688 97% 97% 92% 17% 16% 2% 0%Dungog 198 90% 95% 92% 53% 51% 2% 0%Lake Macquarie 2,892 99% 98% 93% 2% 1% 2% 0%Maitland 2,607 99% 99% 95% 2% 2% 1% 0%Newcastle 1,631 98% 96% 93% 2% 1% 3% 0%Port Stephens 1,676 98% 98% 93% 5% 5% 3% 0%

Table 20 – Rainwater Tanks: Tank Volume Distribution

Tank Volume (L)

LGA

CertificatesNominating a

RainwaterTank

0 -2,000

2,001-3,000

3,001-5,000

5,001-10,000

10,001-20,000

20,001-50,000 >50,000

Cessnock 1,688 2% 19% 48% 16% 4% 8% 3%Dungog 198 4% 9% 23% 23% 7% 23% 12%Lake Macquarie 2,892 3% 35% 48% 11% 1% 0% 0%Maitland 2,607 4% 30% 54% 9% 1% 1% 0%Newcastle 1,631 11% 43% 39% 6% 1% 2% 0%Port Stephens 1,676 5% 23% 53% 13% 2% 3% 1%

Table 21 – Stormwater Tanks: Connection Distribution

LGA

CertificatesIndicating

StormwaterUse

Garden Toilet Laundry

Cessnock 8 100% 0% 0%Dungog 1 0% 0% 100%Lake Macquarie 24 96% 13% 4%Maitland 3 100% 33% 33%Newcastle 15 87% 33% 20%Port Stephens 7 71% 14% 14%


Table 22 – Stormwater Tanks: Tank Volume Distribution

Tank Volume (L)

LGACertificates

Nominating aStormwater

Tank

0 -2,000

2,001-3,000

3,001-5,000

5,001-10,000

10,001-20,000

20,001-50,000 >50,000

Cessnock 8 13% 25% 13% 38% 13% 0% 0%Dungog 1 0% 0% 100% 0% 0% 0% 0%Lake Macquarie 24 54%* 4% 21% 13% 8% 0% 0%Maitland 3 0% 0% 33% 0% 67% 0% 0%Newcastle 15 40% 20% 13% 13% 0% 13% 0%Port Stephens 7 14% 14% 0% 29% 14% 29% 0%

*Includes two certificates which failed to provide a tank volume

Table 23 – Greywater: Connection Distribution

LGA

TotalCertificatesIndicatingGreywater

Use



Table 24 – Greywater: Treatment & Diversions Systems

LGA

TotalCertificatesIndicatingGreywater

Use

Treatmentsystem

DiversionSystem

Cessnock 43 30% 70%Dungog 13 31% 69%Lake Macquarie 26 65% 35%Maitland 14 43% 57%Newcastle 25 44% 56%Port Stephens 9 33% 67%


Table 25 – Reticulated Recycled Water: Connection Distribution

LGATotal Certificates

Indicating ReticulatedRecycled Water Use



Table 26 – Private Dam: Connection Distribution

LGA Total Certificatesindicating Private Dam Garden Toilet Laundry


Date post:	27-Jul-2020
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