Water Security Statement 2021 Water for Sustainable Growth Contents Executive summary ........................................................................................................ i Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1 What is water security? .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 2 Why we need to consider water security ............................................................................................................................................................... 2 Who is responsible for water security? ................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Why a water security statement? .............................................................................................................................................................................. 5 South Australia’s water resources ............................................................................... 7 Where do we get our water from? ................................................................................................................................................................................ 8 Groundwater ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Surface water ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Recycled water .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 9 Desalination ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 9 How are water resources managed in South Australia? ................................................................................................................................... 10 Prescribed water resources ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 10 Non-prescribed water resources ............................................................................................................................................................................ 10 Water markets ................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 11 Water for the environment ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 12 Adelaide’s water security ........................................................................................... 14 Water available to meet urban Adelaide’s requirements ................................................................................................................................. 15 Additional sources of water ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 19 Stormwater ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 19 Rainwater .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 21 Wastewater ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 21 Adelaide’s water balance ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 22 How is urban Adelaide’s water distributed? .......................................................................................................................................................... 23 How does urban Adelaide use its water? ................................................................................................................................................................ 23 How does Adelaide compare? ................................................................................................................................................................................ 24 Long-term water security outlook ......................................................................................................................................................................... 25 A water-secure, cool and green Adelaide ............................................................................................................................................................... 26 Regional water security .............................................................................................. 27 Overview ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 28 Regional drinking water ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 28 Regional water recycling ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 29 Regional urban centres ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 30 Whyalla, Port Augusta and Port Pirie ................................................................................................................................................................... 30 Mount Gambier ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 30 Murray Bridge................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 30 Port Lincoln ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 30 Remote communities ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 30 Priority water-dependent regional industries ....................................................................................................................................................... 31 Water for primary industries .................................................................................................................................................................................... 31 Water for energy and mining .................................................................................................................................................................................. 31 Regional water security status ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 33 South East ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 33 Riverland and Murraylands ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 34 Mount Lofty Ranges .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 36 McLaren Vale .................................................................................................................................................................................................................