Water sources web portal now open

The Bureau of Meteorology has launched Climate Resilient Water Sources — an interactive website providing comprehensive mapping and information of desalinated and recycled water sources for over 350 sites across Australia, both publicly and privately owned and operated.

Climate Resilient Water Sources has been jointly developed by the Bureau of Meteorology, the Australian Water Recycling Centre of Excellence, the National Centre for Excellence in Desalination and CSIRO. Available at www.bom.gov.au/water/crews, users can use the portal to search information on capacity, production, location and use of alternative water sources in their area.

Climate-resilient water sources will play an important role in increasing water security, lessening climate variability impacts on water availability. The portal will inform the Australian community, government and the water industry of the contribution that these sources make to secure water supplies for current and future residential, industrial, mining, commercial and agricultural needs.

“The portal improves our understanding of how climate-resilient water sources can play a greater role in regional water security and supply,” said Dr Mark O’Donohue, CEO of the Australian Water Recycling Centre of Excellence.

“Before this project we didn’t have a clear picture of how much recycled and desalinated water could be produced in each state and territory. What is particularly interesting is there are hundreds of small and large recycled water and desalination systems around Australia providing water for farming, irrigation, heavy industry, waterway health and drinking.”

Plant owners and operators can add and update their data directly to the portal’s database, which is then linked to the website. The bureau will also update data from the National Water Performance Report.