The Water Report: 20 Years of World Water Day [INFOGRAPHIC]

World Water Day is celebrated every year on 22 March to focus the world’s attention to issues surrounding freshwater and the sustainable management of freshwater resources.

The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) recommended this international day in 1992, with the first ever World Water Day celebrated exactly two decades ago on 22 March 1993. This year’s theme for World Water Day is cooperation around water – using water as an instrument of peace by promoting an interdisciplinary approach to sharing this precious resource around the globe.

Here at McCrindle Research, we wondered what Australians had to say about water as a resource priority, water costs, and the use of water per Australian individual.

Water: Precious But Over-Priced

Our recent nationwide survey shows that 4 out of every 5 Australians say that the cost of water is too expensive. Australians value water provision, availability and affordability less than they value access to medical care, and more than they value electricity.

Water Views and Values

How does water consumption and cost compare per person across the Australian states and territories? South Australians pay the most for household water bills per person, while Victorians pay the least. In terms of water consumption, individuals in the Northern Territory use the most while individuals in Victoria use the least at just 55kL per person per year (ABS). In terms of water use in the home, Sydneysiders use 27 percent of water outdoors, 24 percent for showers, 20 percent in the laundry, 16 percent for flushing toilets, 10 percent on kitchen and bathroom taps and 3 percent on baths (Sydney Water).

Methodology

This research was conducted by McCrindle Research through a national study of Australians which received 540+ responses (detailed demographics below). Figures on consumption and price reflect household expenditures, not government expenditures, and reflect Urban Distributed water only. Sources: McCrindle Research, ABS Cat. 4610.0, Water Account, Australia, 2010-2011, and Sydney Water.