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Urban Utilities

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24.01.2022 Water can be wasted on dry soil! When soil becomes hydrophobic, it repels water instead of absorbing it . It’s easy to spot when watering house plants - the water drains quickly through the bottom of the pot but doesn’t wet the soil. Here are a few watering techniques to be sure you’re not wasting precious water:... Submerge the pot in a bucket of water. The pot might want to float at first, but firmly hold it down until the air escapes from the pot. Once bubbling stops, remove the pot from the water. Pop the pot in a shallow container of water, allowing the soil to absorb the water slowly. It may take some time to rewet the soil, but don’t leave the pot to soak for more than an hour or two. If the pot is too large to move, get a watering can with a thin nozzle and trickle water over the soil slowly until it begins to absorb. It’s best to prevent your soil from becoming hydrophobic in the first place, by using a good quality mulch and watering on a regular schedule to prevent the soil from completely drying out.

24.01.2022 Green thumbs listen in! We’ve partnered with the energetic folk at Bulimba Creek Catchment Coordinating Committee (B4C) to create a water sustainable garden to inspire you. With the weather warming up and green shoots starting to show, we thought it the perfect time to release a series of tips that helps you achieve a great looking garden without wasting water. Water sustainable spaces are so important for our future not just in times of drought and water restriction...s. Watch this space for heaps of garden tips and projects throughout spring!

24.01.2022 Here are a few waterwise tips to keep your lawn looking good this summer! Longer blades of grass lose less water to evaporation, so set your mower one notch higher to give it a longer cut! Ease up on the fertiliser - lawns that are fertilised more than necessary need more water. Aerate your lawn regularly to promote deeper root growth so it needs less water.... How low can you go?

23.01.2022 We've got some new followers here lately - perhaps it's time to reintroduce Dave! He's one of our water quality experts, and releases our water report each week. Submit your tip in the comments for a future mention and stay tuned every week for dam level and water usage updates.

20.01.2022 Pee, poo, paper and that’s IT! That’s all that should be going down the dunny. Don’t believe us? Check out this monster rag ball at Goodna Sewage Treatment Plant. It’s around 2m long and 60cm wide. To remove it the team brought in a vacuum truck with a high pressure jet rod to cut it into small pieces and suck it out.

20.01.2022 , , . Your towns have moved further into drought for your drinking water supply, after Moogerah Dam dropped below 15 per cent capacity. Despite the catchment receiving over 180mm rainfall throughout December and January, it was not enough to boost levels in Moogerah Dam. Your communities rely on this dam for your drinking water supply. ... Water usage is currently sitting at around 170 litres per person per day and we’re encouraging you to continue to save water wherever you’re able to. Medium restrictions remain in place, so please adhere to these as a minimum. There are currently no changes to the tanker filling station in Boonah and it remains open to all users. Read more about current conditions at www.urbanutilities.com.au/currentconditions

20.01.2022 : As you know from previous updates, Urban Utilities and Seqwater activated level one drought response in Canungra in early June. Despite the welcome rainfall in October, flows in Canungra Creek are continuing to drop and are currently sitting just under three megalitres per day. With no decent rainfall predicted over the next fortnight, the move to level two drought response is imminent. (Level two drought response is triggered when flows i...n the creek fall below 0.5 megalitres per day.) While the Bureau of Meteorology advises that an active La Nina weather cycle is still in effect across Northern Australia, Canungra Creek, the raw water supply for Seqwater’s Canungra Water Treatment Plant, requires regular rainfall in order to maintain flow year-round. Drought levels can progress in quick succession in Canungra. If the creek stops flowing and Seqwater needs to take their water treatment plant offline, Seqwater will tanker drinking water to Canungra to maintain the town supply. Water restrictions are still in place in Canungra and we encourage everyone to please continue to save water. : If the treatment plant goes offline, we plan to maintain direct access to the Canungra tanker filling station for local off-network households. Commercial carting operators will be directed to use alternative filling stations, with the closest being in Beaudesert. If you rely on tank water, please consider your circumstances now and top up your tanks or plan ahead for a potential increase in delivery times from commercial carters.

19.01.2022 As we prepare for lockdown in Greater Brisbane, we want to assure you, your essential services from us are unaffected by COVID-19. During the lockdown, our crews will continue to work around the clock to ensure the reliability of our water and sewerage services. Bursts, leaks, and essential works may still happen in your area. This work is to repair and maintain the network and provide a reliable water service for you now and into the future. We’re limiting planned works as... much as possible in the coming days, but some works may need to continue. We recommend you check your mailbox for information regarding any planned works in your area. You can also check our interruptions page for more information: urbanu.com.au/interruptions Sometimes to get a job done safely our crews need to work together with more than one person on site - and we ask that you please maintain social distancing if you see them in your street. They’ll be wearing masks and adhering to safety and hygiene protocols. If you have any further questions during this time, we’re here and ready to chat. You can also contact our 24/7 Faults and Emergencies line on 13 23 64. Stay safe this weekend Greater Brisbane, from all of us here at Urban Utilities.

18.01.2022 We are proud to acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land and waterways on which we work and live, and pay respects to the Elders past, present and emerging. We recognise and value their traditional responsibility for the land and water, and are proud to have shaped our first ‘Reflect’ Reconciliation Action Plan around this important connection. We also recognise and value the cultures and the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities to Queensland.

18.01.2022 Update 4pm: Water is now back on in Alderley. Thanks for your understanding while we fixed the issue. Our apologies for the inconvenience today. Some customers in Alderley may be experiencing low water pressure or no water. We’re aware of the issue and thank you for your patience while our crews investigate and work to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

17.01.2022 A notice to the Canungra community: It’s been a warm start to spring and unfortunately the hot, dry conditions have impacted the flow in Canungra Creek - it’s dropped below seven megalitres per day again. What does this mean for you? Water restrictions remain in place and we’re asking the community to be extra mindful of their water use. During winter, those connected to the town supply had their usage down to 90 litres per person per day. With the arrival of such warm weathe...r, usage now sits around 125 litres per person per day. It’s time to see how low you can go again! If you have any questions regarding water use in Canungra, or the medium level restrictions currently in place, feel free to leave a comment or PM us. You can also sign up for email updates at urbanutilities.com.au/canungra

17.01.2022 A notice to the Canungra community: With little to no rainfall over the past week, flows in Canungra Creek have continued to drop and are now sitting at 3.3 megalitres per day. Last fortnight we saw the flows fall below seven megalitres per day so we are seeing the effects of this hot, dry weather. What does this mean for you? Despite the active La Niña for eastern Australia and predictions for a wet summer, the rain might not fall soon enough and we expect flows in Can...ungra Creek to continue to fall. Water restrictions remain in place and we’re asking the community to be extra mindful of their water usage. If you have any questions regarding water use in Canungra, tanker filling stations or the medium level restrictions currently in place, feel free to leave a comment or PM us. We also encourage you to sign up for Canungra specific email updates at urbanutilities.com.au/canungra

15.01.2022 This #WaterwiseWednesday's tip isn’t hard, remember when you’re working out in the yard...to save water, we propose use a broom, not a hose. There’s many a way we can all save water, check out these simple tips http://bit.ly/2sTy21r #SimpleWaysToSaveWater #EveryoneAndEveryDrop

15.01.2022 Seqwater is planning essential works on two important water pipes near Barnes Hill, that carry water to Brisbane and Ipswich. This weekend, there will be a trial on the water network, which will involve taking these two pipes offline temporarily. We’ll work with Seqwater to maintain water supply, however some properties in Brisbane and Ipswich may experience temporary changes to their water. You may notice a temporary reduction in water pressure, or a change to the taste, o...dour, or colour of your water. You might also notice some tanker movement in your area. For this reason, we want to keep you as informed as possible, and you're welcome to send us a Facebook message if you have any questions or concerns. More information about the project and a list of impacted suburbs can be found here: urbanutilities.com.au/barneshill

15.01.2022 Nope. #dontflushthat

14.01.2022 When there’s rain about, pop a bucket out. You can use the water to give your indoor plants a drink, so they don't miss out on nature’s top up!

13.01.2022 Flows in Canungra Creek are approaching 0.5 megalitres per day, moving Canungra into level two drought response. What this means for your community: We’re asking you to continue your great water-saving efforts, and to further reduce water waste wherever possible... We’re working closely with Seqwater to monitor the creek levels and town water use in order to respond should the creek stop flowing Seqwater is ready to start tankering drinking water to Canungra to maintain town supply If Seqwater needs to take its water treatment plant offline, we plan to maintain direct access to the Canungra tanker filling station for local off-network households Commercial carting operators will be directed to use alternative filling stations, with the closest being in Helen St, Beaudesert

11.01.2022 With the rain we’ve recently had, our gardens are likely to be quite glad. So our #WaterwiseWednesday tip for you today, is to check your Bureau of Meteorology ...radar and water another day. There’s many a way we can all save water: https://www.seqwater.com.au/water-wise #SimpleWaysToSaveWater #EveryoneAndEveryDrop

10.01.2022 This year’s Pantone colour of the year offers plenty of inspiration to incorporate pops of ‘illuminating’ colour in your garden. Bulimba Creek Catchment Coordinating Committee (B4C) have kindly shared with us three native botanicals that are bright, low maintenance and water-savvy for your garden. Pultenaea villosa (or ‘hairy bush-pea’) - a small, high density shrub that requires semi-shade and grows to around 2m tall. ... Banksia robur (or ‘swamp banksia’) - a large shrub with brown, soft, velvety leaves and illuminating brush flowers. Acacia conferta (or ‘crowded-leaf’ wattle) - a small tree adorned with yellow pom poms.

09.01.2022 Water meter boxes, walls, pipes, and even compost heaps are places native bees love to live. As meter boxes are dark and have a stable temperature they make the the perfect hive for bees to nest and make honey. The survival of these buzzy little friends is imperative to our ecosystems, and with land development on the rise it’s important to relocate native bees when they’re found.

09.01.2022 Did you receive an email or SMS from us asking you to sign up to eBilling? That’s your prompt to join more that 180,000 customers who’ve already made the switch! We’re actively trying to be more sustainable by reducing paper and water waste. How? By encouraging customers like you to receive your bills online. Update your details now: urbanutilities.com.au/ebilling (Please note: switching to eBilling is simple and secure. During the sign-up process, you will only ever be prompted to update your contact details and account information. You will never be prompted to input credit card details or any other sensitive payment information.)

09.01.2022 Cleaning up around the place? The broom, not a hose, we suggest you embrace! The average garden hose can use up to 25 litres a minute, so this #WaterwiseWednes...day remember to use a broom or a leaf blower when cleaning paths, driveways and other hard surfaces. For more simple ways to be waterwise and make your Water Promise visit: www.seqwater.com.au/water-wise ##MyWaterPromise #savewater #SEQ

08.01.2022 Your ‘How Low’ challenge this week! Go and find your water meter. The best way to keep track of your home water use is by regularly reading your meter. You can find it on the property boundary in a meter box. We recommend popping on a pair of gloves before diving in. Flip the lid, and read the details - black is kilolitres, and red is litres. Reading the meter and tracking your usage weekly can also help identify concealed leaks on your property - because you’ll have a better idea of your regular water use!

07.01.2022 Today marks World Homeless Day and Orange Sky Australia’s sixth birthday Congratulations on six years of supporting people doing it tough through a laundry and shower service and conversation. In 2016 we jumped on board as a sponsor, supporting Orange Sky’s vision where everyone feels connected to community and has the opportunity to sit down for a genuine conversation without judgment.

07.01.2022 Meet the Bulimba Creek Catchment Coordinating Committee (B4C) team: Glen A lifelong love of nature and gardening has gone full circle for Glen, who left his country life to join corporate Australia and raise a family. Fast forward to today and he’s back doing what he loves best - reconnecting with the environment. Glen’s favourite tasks in the garden are a mix of time in the field to propagation, potting and planting. Currently enrolled in a Certificate III in Conservation a...nd Land Management, Glen hopes that the knowledge gained will be of assistance to B4C. What’s your favourite drought proof plant? Acacias (Wattles) - Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! What’s your best tip to save water in the garden? Remember to mulch and select native plants. Find out more about our Water Savvy Gardens project at urbanutilities.com.au/watersavvygardens

06.01.2022 With dam levels just above 60% capacity, the Gold Coast Desalination Plant will increase production from today to help preserve South East Queensland dams ahead of the next wet season. Full story: bit.ly/3iCEb6Y

05.01.2022 Good morning from our Oxley Resource Recovery Centre! Did you know we treat the equivalent of around 130 Olympic size swimming pools of wastewater every day at plants like these? It's easy to flush and forget but a lot goes on behind the scenes once our Number 1s and 2s go down the loo!

05.01.2022 With less than two months to go until Christmas, we want to give you all the eco holiday gift inspiration you'll need to have a conscious holiday season At Br...isbane City Council's virtual Green Heart Fair you'll be able to get products from Little Eco Shop Bokashi Ninja and Healthy Focus for your Christmas gifts Plus our favourites at OzHarvest Brisbane, Australia Zoo, Urban Utilities and plenty more will help you have a sustainable summer Check out our Instagram and Facebook on 28 & 29 November

04.01.2022 Week two of Dave’s water report! This week we’re encouraging you to get your showers down under four minutes. How? Follow us on Spotify and hop in and out in one song! Find us here: ... urbanu.com.au/bathroombeatsam See more

04.01.2022 Hot tip for pool owners

04.01.2022 Washing this weekend? Make sure the machine is set to ‘full’ and everything dirty makes it in there. Your challenge is to only turn the washing machine on this weekend if it’s FULL! It’s little changes around the house that make a big difference! How low can you go?

03.01.2022 A shower head can use around 9L of water per minute a surprising amount when you catch it in a bucket! Try this out next time you shower and give your plants a drink with the water you saved. How low can you go?!

03.01.2022 World Toilet Day! We’re so glad there’s a day completely dedicated to appreciating our toilets, plumbing and sewer system. You can join WaterAid Australia for their cel-loo-brations below!

02.01.2022 Wondering why your bill arrived a few days earlier than usual? Well, there’s a ‘simple’ explanation. Simpler Billing has begun in Brisbane, Ipswich and Scenic Rim. It’ll make it simpler for you to: understand bills,... monitor your water usage, and detect leaks sooner saving water, money and hassle. Between now and February 2022, we’ll be gradually shortening the time between when your water meter is read and your bill arrives. How? By issuing your bills a few days earlier than usual each quarter between 4 and 14 days earlier, depending on the location of your property. To make up for this, we’ll give you more time to pay them. For example, as your current bill arrived 14 days earlier than usual, we’ve extended its payment terms from 30 to 44 days. Once your transition is complete, bills will arrive days not weeks after meter reads and all the charges on them will be for the same period, in arrears. Read more about this small but important change, at urbanutilities.com.au/simpler

01.01.2022 Friday pop quiz! Do you know which button on your loo is the half flush? If you don’t your challenge this week is to find out ASAP and start using it. If you do try to only use the half flush this week unless REALLY necessary. ... Ready to give it a go? How low can you go?

01.01.2022 Wicking in action! Have you ever built a self-watering garden bed before? The perfect water-savvy addition to your garden in this Queensland heat and suitable for yards, courtyards or apartment balconies. This is Bulimba Creek Catchment Coordinating Committee (B4C)’s finished wicking bed at the ‘Water Savvy Garden’ we’re building together - but you can learn how to make your own here: urbanutilities.com.au/wickingbed