Australia the world leader in urban water efficiency

Adapting to climate change is the main driver of $14 billion in urban water industry infrastructure projects now underway to develop new sources of water, upgrade wastewater systems and cater for burgeoning urban population growth, the annual Water Report Card shows.

The Parliamentary Secretary for Water, the Hon Dr Mike Kelly has officially released the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) Report Card in Canberra. The Report Card outlines the $30 billion investment in a portfolio of new water sources which commenced in 2006 and will conclude in 2013 when Adelaide and Melbourne’s desalination plants begin operation.

This massive investment, coupled with community awareness of water efficiency, has set Australia at the international forefront in managing urban water systems.

Much capital expenditure relates to developing new water sources to mitigate risks associated with climate change and to cut reliance on rainfall run-off, the Executive Director of the WSAA Ross Young said at the launch.

“Relying on rainfall is a high-risk strategy in an era of climate change,” Young said.

Young noted that capital city residential water consumption continues to fall.

“The extent to which water efficiency has been embraced by urban communities is one of the great social changes that have occurred in Australia over the last decade,” he said.

“Had consumption held at 2002/3 levels, a further 210 gigalitres - equal to the annual Melbourne household water use - would have been consumed in 2007/8.”

“Australia leads the world in implementing water efficiency programs in cities and towns.”

Young said the Australian community had responded by embracing and developing a very strong water conservation ethos that grew as the spectre of climate change turned into a harsh reality.

“The link between climate change and falling storage levels and the resultant imposition of often inconvenient and harsh water restrictions is very clear to most Australians,” he said.

“It is because of water scarcity that Australians view climate change as a here and now issue rather than a future issue that can be left up to the next generation.”

“Australian businesses also responded to the water security challenge,” Young added.

“Business consumption in capital cities and major regional centres fell 4.6% in the five years to 2007/8 despite significant economic growth.”

“The water industry was well advanced in preparing to operate in a carbon-constrained world, being an early adopter in purchasing renewable energy, maximising green energy production from biogas and implementing measures to lift energy efficiency.”

The report noted that continuing investment in recycling schemes has lifted the volume of water recycled by 118% since 2002.

A major challenge for the urban water industry is managing more complex systems involving multiple water sources.

Managing wastes discharged into wastewater systems in an era of recycling is important, with the WSAA-prepared National Wastewater Source Management Guidelines assisting in handling this risk.

The report noted that although some cities had received welcome rain that has assisted in replenishing depleted storages, other cities have experienced severe dryness which has broken all previous records. This demonstrates the highly variable nature of rainfall in Australia and this variability is predicted to become more pronounced as a result of climate change.

The report noted that desalination is just one water source being developed to mitigate climate change risks, the others include recycling schemes, accessing ground water, aquifer storage and recharge, constructing water grids, building or improving dams and storm water recycling.

“Climate change does not just affect inflows to dams but touches all aspects of urban water management, including the higher risk of bushfires destroying water supply catchments, reduced flows in wastewater systems and more severe storms that cause flash flooding,” Young said.

The large capital investment programs will result in high water prices for city dwellers in the future. Prices are expected to double in some cities over a four to five year period.