# Water
The average Victorian household uses approximately 186,000 litres of water each year, or approximately 500 litres per day (ABS, 2017). Simple design decisions can reduce consumption of drinking water and help to conserve Victoria's precious water resources.
In the Water category, BESS includes actions regarding the water efficiency of fixtures, rainwater collection & use, water efficient landscaping and building systems water use. Other water efficiency considerations that are not captured in BESS but are also important include:
- Locating hot water units close to the point of use to reduce heat loss through pipes.
- Locating wet areas (bathrooms & laundries) and kitchens adjacent to each other.
- Using an alternative source of water such as greywater to water plants (non-edible varieties)
# Water Profile Questions
BESS requires you to complete the Water profile questions. These questions are applicable to the whole site.
Do you have a reticulated third pipe or an on-site water recycling system?
Where the site will connect to a reticulated third pipe or an on-site water recycling system is to be installed, the details of this should be provided with the BESS report.
A third pipe system is also known as a 'purple pipe' system, and is a Class A recycled water supply that can be used for toilets, laundry and irrigation water needs.
A grey water system would be an example of an on-site water recycling system.
Refer to your council and water authority for details and requirements related to these systems.
If you click yes here, a textbox will appear asking you to fill out details of the third pipe or on-site water recycling system. Note that this text box will only be shown if the ‘Use the built in calculation tools’ is chosen for this section.
Are you installing a swimming pool?
This question is for information only. It is not connected to any calculation within BESS.
Are you installing a rainwater tank?
Select Yes here to activate the Rainwater tank calculator. You can enter multiple rainwater tanks below. Note that the Rainwater tank calculator will only be shown if the ‘Use the built in calculation tools’ is chosen for this section.
# Water Approach
For all developments, you can opt to use the in-built calculator or provide your own calculations for Water credits 1.1.
Note that 'Rainwater collection and re-use' used to be a separate credit (2.1) in BESS, but is now considered in credit 1.1 – potable water use reduction
# Built-in Calculator
If using the in-built calculator, you will be asked to complete the 'Water fixtures, fittings and connections’ table by entering information about the WELS ratings of sittings and various appliance types. The calculator will determine whether you have achieved points in the 1.1 Water credit.
# Provide own calculations
You can opt to provide modelling or your own calculations to demonstrate the potable water use reduction for water credit 1.1.
A report of the modelling or calculations should be provided as evidence. Assumptions and the basis of the modelling/calculations should be included. Acceptance of the report is at the discretion of the assessing officer at your council.
If using this approach, enter the relevant percentage reduction into each credit.
# Rainwater Calculator
If you tick yes to installing a rainwater tank, the rainwater calculator will appear in the form of a table. Remember, it will only appear once you have also selected that you will be using the built in calculation tools.
This table allows for one or more tanks to be included by clicking on the '+ Rainwater Tank' button.
To complete the rainwater calculator you will need the following information:
- The roof area connected to the tank. The term 'roof area' is used here for simplicity - you should include the total catchment area connected to the tank. Assess your roof plans to determine which roof areas are able to be connected. Water runoff from trafficable areas is considered stormwater, so should not be included as rainwater.
- The tank size. Do not include any tank volume that is required for on-site stormwater detention, as this volume is released slowly back into the stormwater system.
- Whether the tank will be connected to the reticulated third pipe or onsite water recycling system.
- The irrigated garden area connected to the tank. This includes 'active' (automatic and manual irrigation systems) and 'passive' irrigation (where water leaks from the tank into the garden).
- Whether the irrigated garden area if a water efficient garden. Your answer here affects the calculation of water used for irrigation purposes. A water efficient garden includes low water use plant selection and specifying water efficient irrigation (e.g. drip irrigation with timers and rain sensors).
- Whether there is other external water demand connected to the tank such as bin wash down or pool top up. You are required to estimate this water usage in litres per day. Additional water uses for rainwater include non-potable demands such as irrigation, pools, commercial process uses and taps for washdown. Tank water will only be available for additional uses if it not required for internal uses.
# Water Fixtures, Fittings and Connections
This table lists the grouped dwellings and spaces as they were initially entered in the project details stage.
You are required to select the efficiency of all the water fittings and appliances, and then identify where any rainwater or other non-potable water source is being used in the building. Eg toilets, washing machines, hot water. Check with your Council whether this option is accepted. If you plan to have an additional alternative water source as a back up to your rainwater tank, BESS will not allow you to select ‘hot water’ as an option for your rainwater tank to connect to.
Rainwater connected to: Toilets
To answer 'yes', at least one toilet per dwelling must be connected
Rainwater connected to: Laundry (Washing Machine)
To answer 'yes', at least one pair of washing machine stop cocks per dwelling must be connected
Rainwater connected to: Hot Water
To answer 'yes', all other hot water connections must be connected.
When entering information in this table you can select the ‘Select all’ button is the top left-hand corner of the table to copy a selection across all columns.
# Default and Scoping out
For default and scope out options within the water fixtures, fittings and connections table, the following guidance is provided:
- For residential developments, when dishwashers and washing machines are not being provided as a part of the build, these should be entered as ‘Default or unrated’.
- For residential developments it would be reasonable to scope out urinals.
- For non-residential spaces, when a kitchen is not being provided the dishwasher can be scoped out.
- For non-residential spaces, when washing machines are not being provided these can be scoped out.