Economic Benefits Arising from Use of Water Sensitive Urban Development Source Control Measures

The economic benefits of implementing Water Sensitive Urban Development source control measures are evaluated for two case studies. The Lower Hunter and Central Coast water supply networks in New South Wales, Australia have been investigated using a systems approach for different levels of implementation of source control measures including rainwater tanks. Use of rainwater tanks to supplement mains water supply for toilet, hot water and outdoor uses can reduce annual regional water demand by up to 24,700 ML, delay construction of new water supply headworks infrastructure by up to 38 years and, in some cases, eliminate the need for construction of new water supply infrastructure resulting in economic benefits to the community of up to $6B during the next 100 years.