In fact, considering we are still on Stage 3 restrictions, we use more water per person than any other community included in the survey, and only Murray River communities such as Mildura, Swan Hill and Echuca use more water per person than we do in Bendigo.

These numbers are a sobering reminder of the need to conserve water, and fly in the face of the millions of dollars the State Government and its agencies have spent trying to spread the word about water conservation in the past few years.

So while we have been told time and time again of the need to try to reduce our consumption of water to a target of 150 litres per person, the amount we actually use has risen from 175 litres in 2008 to 202 litres per person in 2009.

Something has clearly gone wrong.

The more than 15 per cent increase in usage also comes at a time when the cost of water has risen substantially, raising questions as to whether or not the three-tier pricing system Coliban Water introduced several years ago has actually served a purpose.

Perhaps the authority also needs to look more closely into the impact of higher prices upon consumption, but therein lies the conundrum for Coliban Water.

From an environmental point of view, we must restrict the use of our most precious finite resource, but Coliban Water actually needs us to keep turning on the tap in order to raise more much-needed cash for the future.

What do you think?

Write a letter to the editor, or e-mail: editor@bendigoadver tiser.com.au