Penrith City Council is the first Council in Australia to be part of a pioneering water stewardship project that uses leading technology to reduce water use.
Through a collaboration with SWAN Systems and Microsoft, Council is deploying SWAN's advanced water management software.
Penrith Mayor Todd Carney said the software brings together multiple data sources, including satellite imagery and weather data, to support smarter irrigation planning and water budgeting.
"Penrith City Council can now save up to 30 per cent of water usage and help keep our irrigated sports fields green and thriving, which is great news for our sport-loving community," Cr Carney said.
"At no cost to residents, ratepayers or Council, this project is another great example of Council's leadership and innovation in environmentally sustainable practices," Cr Carney said.
SWAN Systems has enabled Council to take advantage of advanced analytics and predictive modelling to help optimise water use, reduce waste and support long-term environmental goals.
"We are excited to extend our partnership network with Penrith City Council," Tim Hyde, CEO of SWAN Systems, said.
"This initiative reflects a growing commitment by local governments to want to use technology for better water stewardship, ensuring sustainable green spaces for communities while conserving vital resources."
Penrith City Council's leadership and commitment to sustainability aligns with SWAN Systems' vision of smarter, more efficient water use. By integrating innovative irrigation management, this partnership sets a new standard for how urban councils manage water resources.
It supports Penrith City Council's Green Grid Strategy, Cooling the City Strategy and Resilient Penrith Action Plan, which focus on reducing water consumption, improving urban greening and enhancing community resilience to climate change.
The initiative also supports Microsoft's 2030 water positive goal, which has five key pillars: reduce water-use intensity across global operations, replenish more than the company consumes in priority locations Microsoft does business, provide people with access to water and sanitation services globally, drive innovation and data digitisation, and advocate for water policy across the globe.
Microsoft's Water Lead, Eliza Roberts said:
"This partnership with Penrith City Council and SWAN Systems exemplifies Microsoft's commitment to leveraging technology for sustainable water management, reinforcing our dedication to innovative solutions that address critical environmental challenges as we work toward our 2030 water positive goals."
