A combination of strong community effort to conserve water and a multi-billion dollar infrastructure program have set Australia at the international forefront in managing urban water systems.

The annual Report Card by the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA), which was released on August 19 by the Parliamentary Secretary for Water, The Hon Dr Mike Kelly, shows that due to a conscious effort by domestic and business waters users, per capita consumption in Australian cities has declined over the past five years.

The Executive Director of WSAA, Ross Young, said had consumption held at 2002/3 levels, a further 210 gigalitres – equal to the annual Melbourne household water use – would have been consumed in 2007/8.

Mr Young said adapting to climate change and serving rapidly growing populations remain the main drivers of $14 billion in urban water industry infrastructure projects underway in 2009/10 to develop new water sources, upgrade wastewater systems and provide for urban growth.

“The extent to which water efficiency has been embraced by urban communities is one of the great social changes to occur in Australia over the last decade,” he said.