Summary

Booklet, 'Turning Blue: Wise ways with water around your home', published by the City of Melbourne as part of their Total Watermark strategy. This booklet summarises this strategy, and suggests actions for saving water and improving water quality in waterways in the City of Melbourne. The contents cover: population growth, water supply and demand, stormwater, the water cycle, recycling water, pollution, water saving behaviours, choosing a water tank, and community action. A list of contact numbers are provided for 11 language groups. Published by the Melbourne City Council, December 2004.

Physical Description

12 page A4 booklet, bound with 2 staples, matt recycled white paper with multi-coloured printing.

Significance

These items were collected during the Water Smart Home project and document the developing strategies used by the Victorian Government, water authorities, private industries and communities in confronting the emerging water crisis from 1995 to 2007. It captures the increasing urgency to address the growing imbalance between water supply and demand. It demonstrates a shift in government strategy away from an investment in major infrastructure to a campaign focused on behaviour change methods to reduce water consumption and secure Melbourne's water future.

An interesting feature of this material is the focus on gardening. Prior to water restrictions, Melbourne households used up to 50% of potable water for gardening - a significant focus of the public education campaign was therefore directed to this popular cultural activity and offered many ways to preserve this activity within the limits of Melbourne's water supply.

The Smart Water Fund was set up as part of the 'Our Water Our Future' campaign to support innovative water conservation projects, including Museum Victoria's Water Smart Home project. This material was collected as part of the Water Smart Home project. It shows how the 'Our Water Our Future' campaign infiltrated households in Melbourne, and documents the broader community messages and education strategies.

More Information