Water management is vital as water sustains life, and all living organisms need it to survive. But our water resources today are being critically challenged globally due to overuse, pollution and poor or non-existent population planning.

Our Certificate of Water Conservation Management is ideal for those looking for business opportunities or career advancement in the environmental, health, recycling, agricultural, water services or horticultural industries.

The course explores water conservation in the workplace, at home and throughout a range of business industries. You will learn about water management and conservation practices across the world, including in the areas of re-use, treatment and recycling. You will also study water conservation in the services, health, primary production, manufacturing and construction sectors. Remember the three R’s (Reduce, Re-use and Recycle)!

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking a water management course include:

• Learning about the importance of water
• Exploring water cycle rainfall, evaporation, infiltration and effective rainfall
• Studying water sources and storage water quality
• Gaining insights into water use at home and in primary and other industries
• Examining why conserving water has personal, regional and global significance
• Understanding water conversation at home – in Australia, the US and the UK
• Learning about measures that can save water in the home — the kitchen, bathroom and in the garden
• Exploring water-saving devices at home
• Studying water conservation in the workplace and its general principles
• Gaining insights into how to implement water-saving strategies in the workplace
• Examining how to install small appliances and large water-saving devices in the workplace
• Understanding how to maintain water quality, salinity and chemical contaminants
• Learning how to control the use and quality of water
• Exploring water flow measurement, water quality control and how to test water salinity
• Studying how to preserve water in terms of sanitation and minimising evaporation
• Gaining insights into water audits and water management plans
• Examining the use of water and water conservation in primary production
• Understanding water-saving measures including structures, tools and equipment
• Learning about water-wise plants, procedures, irrigation systems and landscaping
• Exploring the methods of water storage including rainwater collection and storage
• Studying bore water, lined ponds and farm dams planning
• Gaining insights into water requirements for domestic and livestock usage
• Examining water quality and water contamination on farms
• Understanding the disposal of water, evaporation, seepage, runoff, overspray and scheduling
• Learning about using farm waste water and irrigation system design
• Exploring maintenance procedures and scheduling and swales and keylines
• Studying sprinkler, surface and flood irrigation

...And more!

Water Conditions in Australia

The Bureau of Meteorology’s Water in Australia 2018–19 report describes the characteristics of our water resources use and availability and highlights the need for ongoing water management in Australia. The main findings were:

Dry conditions across the country

• Australia’s total annual rainfall from 2018 to 2019 was 351mm, which was the lowest in almost 50 years.
• Below–average annual rainfall over much of the country led to drought conditions intensifying across many parts of south-eastern Australia, particularly across the northern parts of the Murray–Darling Basin.
• North-western Australia was also dry, with a below-average wet season due to delayed monsoon onset.
• Streamflow in most rivers across south-eastern Australia was lower than average, and many rivers recorded their lowest annual flows on record, particularly across northern New South Wales.
• Groundwater levels across much of Australia were also lower than average.

Decline in storage volume

• The total accessible surface water storage for Australia as at the end of 2019 was 46 per cent full, which is 17 percentage points less than the same time last year.
• Dry conditions across south-eastern Australia meant storage volumes in some of the Murray–Darling Basin’s major storage systems were less than 20 per cent full and much lower than the previous year.
• End-of-year storages in Sydney and South East Queensland were the lowest in more than 10 years, and for Melbourne and Canberra, the lowest since 2010.

Low surface water use

• The total water taken for consumptive use from 2018 to 2019 was 10 per cent lower than the previous year.
• The total water taken for agricultural use decreased by 14 per cent from 2017 to 18, largely due to the lower water availability and dry conditions across the Murray–Darling Basin.

 

Top 10 Countries With the Highest Water Waste

As populations become more urbanised, the demand for water increases, which highlights the critical importance of adequate water management. Here are the top 10 ‘water wasters’ across the world:

1. China: 1.5 billion people, 362 trillion gallons/year
2. United States: 300 million people, 216 trillion gallons/year
3. Brazil: 175 million people, 95 trillion gallons/year
4. Russia: 143 million people, 71 trillion gallons/year
5. Mexico: 100 million people, 53 trillion gallons/year
6. India: 1.1 billion people, 30 trillion gallons/year
7. England: 60 million people, 20 trillion gallons/year
8. France: 60 million people, 20 trillion gallons/year
9. Canada: 33 million people, 19 trillion gallons/year
10. Australia: 20 million people, 12 trillion gallons/year

To convert gallons to litres, multiple the gallons by 3.785 … which makes the figures even more astounding!

 

Global Industries with the Highest Water Waste

Research shows that industrial water consumption is a major drain on the world’s limited water supply — which is why water management professionals are so highly regarded! But ever wondered which industries have the biggest ‘water footprint’ in terms of using this precious resource?

 

Agriculture

Water waste in the agriculture industry has grown significantly around the world with the growth of crops like corn, wheat, rice, sugarcane and cotton, all of which require high volumes of water. For example, on average and globally, it takes around 3000 litres of water to produce every single kilogram of raw material we depend on. And these crops aren’t slowing down growth-wise either, so it is becoming even more essential for the industry to use more advanced water management technologies to identify and reduce their water waste.

 

Beverage

Producing the beverages we drink also takes a toll on our water supply, as many of the common ones require barley, sugar, chocolate, coffee, vanilla or lemons. Growing these requires massive amounts of water. For example, to produce a cup of coffee uses around 140 litres of water and a glass of milk around 200 litres!

 

Textile and Garments

Surprisingly, the manufacturing of clothing requires some of the highest amounts of water of any industry. One cotton T-shirt can require over 2000 litres of water — that’s more than a single person would drink over three years! Opting for organic cotton is one way you can do your bit for the planet.

 

Automotive Manufacturing

In the automotive industry, the majority of water usage is used for cooling, boiler use, paint spray booths, surface treatment and air conditioning systems. In fact, the manufacturer of a single car can use over 147,000 litres of water!

 

Mining 

A 2020 report released by the Australian Conservation Foundation shows that the mining industry — particularly coal-fired power stations and water coal mining in Queensland and NSW — uses around 383 billion litres of fresh water every year. That’s around the amount needed for 5.2 million people in the same period!

 

8 Simple Ways To Save Water At Home

Our country’s unforgiving climate means we all need to be conscious of how much water we use, so here are some simple tips on how to be kinder to our planet (and save money on your energy bills!)

1. Take shorter showers
2. Install low-flow showerheads
3. Place a cistern-displacement device in your toilet tank
4. Check your toilet for leaks
5. Wash your clothes in cold water
6. Fix leaks in your bathroom and kitchen
7. Always fill up your dishwasher
8. When hand rinsing dishes, don’t leave the water running!

 

Learn how to conserve water in a variety of situations to improve quality of life, save money and reduce your environmental footprint with our Certificate of Water Conservation Management.