SOUTH-East Queensland businesses are adopting water-wise practices to reduce the drain on our dam supplies, according to the latest monthly water reports.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure Anna Bligh says the December progress reports show businesses are forecasting double the amount of water savings required under the Government's emergency water regulation.

"South-east Queensland councils estimate that businesses and government have saved approximately 25ML a day since June 2005 - about 10ML a day of which is attributed to the business sector," she says.

"Business savings have been generated through measures such as the installation of water-efficient taps and shower heads and dual flush toilets. Businesses made these changes off their own bat, with further savings projected under the State Government's Business Water Efficiency Program (BWEP).

According to the December report on the program, businesses are expected to double their targeted water savings from 12ML/day to 24ML/day by April 2008.

"The BWEP plan was developed in consultation with councils with the goal of maximising business savings. Through this planning process, a strong view emerged that business was capable of exceeding the regulated targeted savings," says Ms Bligh.

The $40 million BWEP program, managed by SEQWater, began in July 2006.

"Businesses in 21 council areas that use more than 1ML a year are eligible for rebates for water-efficient taps, shower heads and dual-flush toilets as well as subsidies of up to 50 per cent for the cost of water-smart practices, such upgrading processing and manufacturing systems.

"According to the December report, councils are currently working with 791 businesses - 467 of which use more than 10ML a year - on water efficiency measures," she says.

"Much of the work by Councils in the past six months has centered on identifying eligible businesses and raising awareness about the BWEP program and water efficiency practices."

BWEP has received its first 11 applications, including 29 individual projects, for water savings initiatives worth $300,000. Eight projects (worth $37k) have been assessed and approved. Successful applications to date include a property group with several CBD buildings and a major beverage manufacturer. Initiatives include retrofitting water-efficient taps, toilets and showers and upgrades to industrial processors.

Ms Bligh released the Queensland Water Commission's latest analysis of the region's emergency water projects during an inspection of progress on Queensland's new recycled water pipeline. She says work on the Western Corridor Recycled Water Project is progressing well and remains on track for completion by the end of December 2008.

The project will take purified, recycled water into dam catchments to supplement the south-east's water supplies. It involves the construction of some 200km of pipeline between Luggage Point and Caboonbah and three advanced water treatment plants.