Water for Good: a Plan to Ensure Our Water Future to 2050
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Office for Water Security Level 12, 211 Victoria Square, Adelaide SA 5000 GPO Box 2834, Adelaide SA 5001 A plan to ensure our water future to 2050 ISBN 978-1-921528-34-7 Telephone National (08) 8463 7412 International +61 8 8463 7412 Facsimile National (08) 8463 7420 International +61 8 8463 7420 Website www.waterforgood.sa.gov.au Water for Good Water is our most valuable resource. It’s fundamental to our health, our way of life, our economy and our environment. Our growing population and reduced rainfall means South Australians think more about water than ever before. We are not only more aware of water issues, we are also placing greater value on water and instinctively taking action to save it. Water is vital for the preservation of both quality of life and the environment for all South Australians. It also underpins growth in population and the economy – and these are critical to the State’s future prosperity. Water for Good is a plan that ensures there will always be enough water in South Australia. Most importantly, it will enable us to diversify our supplies to reduce our reliance on the River Murray and other rain- dependent water sources. Report published June 2009. Reprinted June 2010. Disclaimer The Crown in right of the State of South Australia and its employees do not warrant or make any representation regarding the use, or results of use of the information contained herein as to its correctness, accuracy, reliability, currency or otherwise. The Crown in right of the State of South Australia and its employees expressly disclaim all liability or responsibility to any person using the information or advice. Copyright Acknowledgements © Government of South Australia, through the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation 2009. This work is Copyright. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act The Office for Water Security would like to acknowledge the support provided by the 1968 (Cwlth), no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission obtained Project Steering Group, Interagency Advisory Committee and the many others who from the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation. Requests and enquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be directed to the Chief Executive, Department of Water, have contributed to the development of Water for Good. Land and Biodiversity Conservation, GPO Box 2834, Adelaide SA 5001. 5172. The Hon Mike Rann MP The Hon Karlene Maywald MP Robyn McLeod Premier of South Australia Minister for the River Murray Commissioner for Water Security Minister for Sustainability and Minister for Water Security Climate Change Water is undeniably our most precious The State Government’s top priority is Water for Good is a robust resource. ensuring that all South Australians have multidimensional plan to ensure water suffi cient water supplies for a sustainable security for South Australia into the future. South Australia continues to experience lifestyle, economy and environment unprecedented dry weather patterns, and Sustainable water sources underpin for good. the impact of climate change is becoming economic growth, the health of our increasingly apparent. And this goal will be achieved through environment and our quality of life. developing a diverse range of water As a result, our communities have adopted Changing rainfall patterns mean in future supplies. a range of water-saving measures that we must no longer rely on the River have signifi cantly reduced consumption, Extreme drought in the Murray-Darling Murray or even our reservoirs or aquifers and we lead the nation in stormwater Basin and the Mt Lofty Ranges has meant for our total water sources. capture and re-use, irrigation practices, we can no longer use water as we have Diversity and innovation in our water wastewater recycling and rainwater in the past – we need to be more effi cient products is critical as we move to more tank ownership. and much wiser when using our most non rain-dependent water sources. precious resource. Water for Good builds on these important Desalination will represent a signifi cant initiatives, and outlines a comprehensive The actions outlined in Water for Good part of our water future, as will strategy to ensure our State has the most will reduce our reliance on the River opportunities to recycle stormwater and secure water supply in southern Australia. Murray and other rain-dependent water wastewater for non-potable uses. sources. Through this prudent forward- That includes doubling the capacity of planning, we will be well-placed to meet To provide this security, water will have the Adelaide Desalination Plant, securing the needs of a growing population to become more expensive to refl ect its our access to upstream water storage and business community, particularly in true value. facilities, and investing further in times of drought. innovative stormwater harvesting and This 21st century water industry must wastewater recycling projects. In future, our water supplies will feature be managed by best practice legislation climate-independent water through and independent regulatory regimes. It provides a blueprint for improved, desalination. This ensures a portion of our sustainable water practices in all aspects And innovation in future augmentation water needs is guaranteed, despite of our lives – in cities and regions, for options should be encouraged through increasing climate variability expected domestic, commercial and agricultural adaptive regional planning, competition, in future. use – and allows us to further develop market development and third party water sources that are not dependent We already lead the nation on stormwater access regimes. on rainfall. and wastewater recycling projects and we But most importantly, our citizens need to will continue with more of these projects to By placing even greater value on our continue to value water and use it wisely. reduce the draw on our potable supplies. existing water resources and fi nding new Best practice models and the most and effective ways to protect and Across regional South Australia, local up-to-date thinking in Australia have supplement them, South Australia will communities will play a key role in been brought together to develop continue to lead the nation in water supply developing water supply and demand Water for Good and I thank the many innovation. plans that account for future growth and people from the water industry, academia, local supply issues. Water for Good provides certainty for the government and the private sector who future of our most prized resource, and Water for Good provides greater have contributed to its development. reassurance that South Australia’s water emphasis on water conservation, Constant review and adaptability will be supply will continue to support our transparent decision-making and necessary to ensure we stay on track. economy, our lifestyle and our environment. independent scrutiny of service delivery and pricing. New legislation will be enacted to better refl ect the needs of a modern, more competitive and diverse water industry. Water for Good ensures we will be well placed to meet new challenges and manage future demands for water right through until 2050 - for generations of South Australians to come. Water for Good June 2010 1 Contents Part 1 Water for good – the plan in summary 12 Introduction 14 Our climate in context 15 The importance of growth 16 Recent responses 16 Our likely water future 17 Major reforms 18 Towards a water-sensitive state 18 Navigating through the current situation 19 Key actions 20 By 2014 20 By 2025 21 By 2050 21 Part 2 Current initiatives 22 Introduction 24 National policies and reforms 25 State and regional strategies and initiatives 25 Desalination 26 Water use 26 Stormwater recycling 26 Wastewater recycling 26 Caring for our rivers, reservoirs and aquifers 27 Part 3 The challenges of demand and supply 28 Introduction 30 Key points 30 Actions and outcomes 30 Our water sources 31 How we use our water 33 Water use in the Greater Adelaide region 34 Greater Adelaide region water supplies 34 Demand for water in Greater Adelaide 36 Household use 38 2 Water for Good June 2010 Primary production 38 Contents Public purposes 38 Commercial and industrial 38 How we move and supply our water 38 Non-metropolitan water supply and wastewater infrastructure 40 Rural irrigation supply infrastructure 40 Recycled water infrastructure for irrigation use 40 Desalination infrastructure for potable and irrigation use 40 Key drivers for demand and supply 41 South Australia’s future economic conditions 41 Increasing population 42 A changing climate 43 Future demand and supply for Greater Adelaide’s mains water 48 Greater Adelaide’s variable water supply 48 Balancing demand and supply 48 Possible water futures for Greater Adelaide with no further action 50 Possible water futures for Greater Adelaide with action 51 Greater Adelaide’s likely future supply 52 Adaptable framework – planning in a climate of uncertainty 52 Water security standards 52 State of the resource and demand pressures 54 Trigger points 54 Monitoring and measurement 55 Options and assessment 55 Independent planning process 55 Part 4 Managing our water future 56 Introduction 58 Rain, rivers, reservoirs and aquifers 59 Key points 59 Actions and outcomes 59 Discussion 60 The River Murray 60 The Murray-Darling Basin reforms 62 Mount Lofty Ranges Watershed 62 Groundwater aquifers 62 Water for Good June 2010 3 How we will manage our rivers, reservoirs and aquifers 63 The