A fountain could save lives, according to a Greek scientist from the University of New South Wales

Groundbreaking research from UNSW Sydney and Sydney Water has found that installing more water features including public fountains, ponds and mist in western Sydney could reduce the mortality rate during heatwaves by almost 50%.

Bound between the Blue Mountains and the CBD, Sydney's west receives little relief from cool sea breezes, with summer temperatures six to 10 degrees higher than in the east. The west also has up to three times as many heat-related deaths compared to the east during periods of extreme temperatures.

Mat Santamouris, Professor of High Performance Architecture in UNSW Built Environment and lead researcher on the Cooling Western Sydney study, says water technology, cool tiling and pavement materials, and more canopies are crucial to providing relief from the urban heat island effect.

LISTEN HERE PROFESSOR SANTAMOURIS FULL INTERVIEW ON SBS GREEK:

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Mat Santamouris, Professor of High Performance Architecture in UNSW on SBS Greek

A child in a pool. Source: SBS