Wading in with new ideas for water

Australians have always had a tenuous relationship with water, constantly bemoaning our status as the ‘driest continent.’ After decades of dry spells and water restrictions, record floods are causing enormous damage to life and property. Australia has never been confident of its ability to secure a reliable supply of water, especially to a growing population.

We do have the lowest average annual rainfall of all continents (excluding Antarctica). But we also use less than 10% of our fresh water resources. The real challenge is not water scarcity but the extreme variability of our rainfall.

Up until now, dams have been the solution to securing a reliable supply of water. As the population grew, we built more dams. However, almost every river in Australia has been dammed at least once and the best dam sites have already been taken. We cannot continue to rely on dams to increase water supply.

The Treasury’s 2010 Intergenerational Report projects that Australia’s population will increase by 63% to 35.9 million people by 2050. The Water Services Association of Australia predicts that by 2056, water demand in urban areas (where most of the population growth is expected to occur) will increase by 76%. Politicians and demographers, alarmed by these figures, believe our cities will have to be ‘completely redesigned’ to cope with the projected increase in water demand.

However, since the last dam building period ended in 1990, new water sources have surfaced. Newer technologies now allow us to purify sewage water, desalinate sea water, and use water more efficiently. Recycling and desalination, while energy intensive and expensive, do not rely on our variable rainfall and can be used to supplement water supply from existing dams.

Comprehensive urban metering would encourage households to change their water use. In 2008, Australia metered approximately 84% of its single dwellings, according to the OECD. Sweden, France and the Czech Republic meter 100% of their dwellings. Research shows that households with meters consume 10% less water.

These ‘new’ sources of water have the capacity to meet the additional demand of the next few decades. Six desalination plants operating in our capital cities by 2013 will alone be able to provide up to 49% of capital city water consumption. By broadening our thinking beyond dams, and embracing a multi-faceted approach to water provision, we can support the water needs of a growing Australia.

Rebecca Gill is a Researcher at The Centre for Independent Studies. Her report Droughts and Flooding Rains: Water Provision for a Growing Australia was released by the CIS this week. Click here to watch a video of Rebecca discussing her report.