Ballarat water usage to rise under stage 1

BALLARAT residents are expected to use 192 megalitres of water per week under stage 1 water restrictions.This is up from an average of 185ML under stage 3 and about 155ML per week under stage 4.According to CHW figures, individual water usage per day is expected to rise to an average of 158 litres per person, per day, up from 152 litres under stage 3.In total, Ballarat residents are expected to use an extra 360ML of water a year when the city's water restrictions ease from August 1.Under stage 3, Ballarat uses 9650ML annually.Despite the figures showing an expected increase in water use, CHW communications and marketing manager Wendy Stubbs said people were far more water-wise."Just because people can use water doesn't mean they necessarily will," she said.She said the behaviour of Ballarat people in their water use had dramatically changed.The authority has done extensive research and modelling based on consumption.They have considered factors including current and predicted rainfall and the use of water tanks across the region."We've looked at other regions and there is not that rebound to old habits when the restrictions are dropped back," Ms Stubbs said.