Solutions to Water Scarcity in Australia Research Paper 2022

SOLUTIONS TO WATER SCARCITY IN AUSTRALIA
STUDENT NAME:
INSTITUTIONAL AFFILIATION:
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Water Scarcity
Abstract: When it comes to water, Australia, as both a country and continent, comes into the
forefront by the virtue of being in both extremes of the water issue. For a fact, Australia has
plenty of water resources in the northern region where surprisingly the area is sparsely populated
by people, and there is a scarcity of water resources in the southern region where the climate is
more temperate. The southern area is densely populated despite the relative scarcity of water
resources that inhabitants experience. Majority of Australia experiences wet and dry climatic
conditions which are seasonal. In addition, the southern region experiences varying climatic
condition which has led to the region receiving a declining amount of rainfall in recent years.
There are several reasons which have led to low and low rainfall being received in the southern
part which includes poor legislations which have contributed to overexploitation of water
resources such as surface and groundwater supplies, and increased demand for water resources
for irrigation and both domestic and industrials uses. As a result, water sources are getting
depleted each and every day-rivers water levels are getting low and even the boreholes and wells
are have gotten dry. This paper examines the situation scarcity of water in Australia, identify
causes of water scarcity and how this environmental crisis can be averted and the cost for the
same.
Keywords: Scarcity. Sustainability. Legislation. Environmental Degradation. Policy
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Table of Content
s
1. Executive summary.............................................................................................................................4
2. Evaluation of Solutions .......................................................................................................................5
Whole-system thinking........................................................................................................................6
Technical innovations..........................................................................................................................6
Urban systems.....................................................................................................................................6
Water use efficiency and productivity gains........................................................................................7
3. Selection of methodology....................................................................................................................9
4. Consideration of the solutions.............................................................................................................9
Introduction.........................................................................................................................................9
Social consideration...........................................................................................................................10
Environmental consideration.............................................................................................................11
Economic consideration.....................................................................................................................11
3. Quantification and costing.................................................................................................................11
a) Benefit-cost ratio...........................................................................................................................12
b) Incremental rate of return analysis.................................................................................................13
4. Conclusion.........................................................................................................................................13
5. References.........................................................................................................................................15
6. Appendices........................................................................................................................................16
Appendix 1........................................................................................................................................17
Water ratio and availability………………………………………………………………………..…17
Surface water irrigation………………………………………………………………………...……17
Appendix 2…………………………………………………………………………………………...18
Whole system water flow management in Australia……………………………………………...…18
Water supply and Population…….......................................................................................................19
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WATER SCARCITY IN AUSTRALIA
1. Executive summary
This report investigates the growing water scarcity problem of Australia and other countries over
the world. In Australia, the level of water scarcity has more that aggravated in the past few years,
causing the climate changed and land use increased, but the poor governance which maintains to
protect the regulated heavily rivers and groundwater resources keep them in almost pristine
condition. Increasing demand for water use has become an increasing concern for the public and
government (Jean-Marc Faurès, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Jippe
Hoogeveen, J. T. Winpenny, 2012). The water scarce is growing problem in Australia, many
public officials and water experts are trying to analyse the situation in order to get the best
solution that can solve the problem. This report examines the key cause of water scarcity, the
result of the issue and possible solutions.
Water scarcity is a vocabulary that has become synonymous international for being one of the
predominant consequences of global warming this is being felt all around the global (Karen
Hussey, 2007). Further, the water assets in Australia are from heavily regulated river and ground
water such as aquifer. About r65% of its runoff is between the three drainage divisions
positioned within the moderately populated area of the north. In contrast, most big urban towns
are located in the south part areas which are irrigated agriculture positioned in the Murray
Darling Basin where in the simplest of the countrywide run-off happens. Consequently, Australia
has extensive water resources, however, the populations and agricultural activities are focused on
which water sources are maximumly restrained. Australia has approximately 413000gigalitres of
water available annually the great estimate of ways a lot of water can be diverted and became to
human use is approximately 105000GL.
At gift, Australians extract approximately 70000GL and devour approximately 25000GL, of
which 16660 liters are utilized in agriculture (Luis Santos Pereira, 2009). However, the intake in
irrigated agriculture is growing by means of about 15 percent in the past 3 years and as
agriculture consumes 70 percent of the water assets, Australian agriculture has to find out how
higher to show that scarce water into wealth and properly-being for our groups.
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Most hectares of Australia are under irrigation and they are used for agriculture purpose which
generates a lot of revenue to the citizens and about 75% of irrigated agriculture land are found in
the Murray-Darling Basin in which both water from rivers and ground water but they are
insufficient (Colin Chartres, 2010). Due to this insufficient water it leads to storage of water
which as negative impact to the Health Rivers, wetlands, floodplains and estuaries of the basin.
Australians agreed to cap the extraction at the level of water and other decisions and policy to
ensure that the sustainability had been overreached (Troy, 2008). The major challenge facing
Australia is the way to balance extraction of water for irrigation and other uses in order they will
have ecological environmental balance to maintain river flows and the provision of appropriate
environmental flow to maintain healthy rivers and serve the needs of all users of rivers and
groundwater. This regulation will regulate the amount of ground water and the flow volume but
ground water and ground water are manageable conjunctively. Increased flows to rivers in
southern Australia is another challenge as they lead to poor drainage and erosion of useful
agricultural nutrients and increasing pesticides as they provide habitat for them(Zetland, 2011).
2. Solutions to Water Scarcity
For all discussed problems above the government has introduced some measures to cope with the
situation of deficit has the population is also increasing .It has increased the incentives that
improves water uses in efficient and productive way (Morgan, 2015). Therefore, the NWI is
stimulating and guiding the following developments in water management;
2.1. Whole-system thinking
Water scarcity has increased due to poor management as most of the citizen do not apply whole
system thinking to water supply and ensure the water is reused again and again and goes back to
the natural bodies (Richter, 2014). Circulation of water flow from the surface and ground water
are managed partial entities as are city storm water, sewage remedy, and effluent reuse.
Progressively Australia has built an integrated approach that is pinned with the aim of the
reputation of interactions within the water cycles. Such as rivers are cared by using being
dammed and regulated and with the aid of water extraction, then the pattern of glide is changed.
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Over extraction of water can lead to negative effect to aquatic fish, growth salinity and the
occurrence of algal blooms, and harm vegetation in wetlands and floodplains (John Quiggin,
2012). Modifications in river drift regimes have an effect on groundwater.
The discharge patterns to and from wetlands, billabongs and flood plains leads to salinity of the
groundwater and absence of clean water for use.
Incorporated catchment areas that are responsible for management they are now a working
precept for the implementation of CoAG’s water reform projects and is important to the
established order of catchment control authorities in Victoria and New South Wales and
comparable structures within the different states. Local control of catchments using most of the
conceptual frameworks which have developed from an entire-device approach at the moment are
set up practices (Barbier, 2019).
2.2. Technical Innovations
Improvements that are technical within the water industry encompass an extensive range of
opportunities which include extra effective and less expensive ways of treating waste and saline
water for reuse, stepped forward leak detection structures for city and irrigation water
conveyance systems, using sun strength to desalinate water, far-flung sensing technologies that
enhance our understanding of the vertical and horizontal distribution of sparkling and saline
water sources, improved modelling of water systems that facilitate adaptive management
responses and engineering enhancements that reduce the amount of water required to technique
substances in mining, agricultural value-adding and manufacturing (Grafton, 2014)
2.3. Urban systems
Websites for new dams for climatic variability suggest that Australian city groups require an
increasing number of to observe the usage of water with greater efficiency and retaining scarce
resources. In 2003, water usage in Australia’s 22 largest cities turned into 2065 GL of which
59% changed into residential and 28% became used for industrial, commercial, neighbourhood
government, parks, and firefighting. National about 9% of the total effluent became stated as
being recycled. In 2001/02, over 500 sewage treatment plants national contributed to this
recycling with much less than 200GL in keeping with 12 months (Suhas Pralhad Wani, 2009).
Call for and pricing control have supposed that Sydney, for instance, has been able to
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accommodate populace growth. Till 1985 populace increase and water intake paralleled each
other. However, subsequently, intake has flattened permitting the city to accommodate an
additional 700000 humans without an increase in water called for. Infrastructures and enabled
environment in Sydney city has developed by way of 3 million humans at some stage in what
appears to be a rainfall sequence this is an awful lot wetter than the first 50 years when you
consider that federation.
Many different projects that pass beneath the headings of “included water machine
Management” and “water touchy urban layout” encompass possibilities to include third pipe
“grey” water structures for lavatory flushing and lawn watering in new housing tendencies,
accelerated treatment of water released and its reuse for industry and irrigation, sewer mining
and remedy for localized irrigation of areas for parks and sports activities surfaces and hurricane
water capture and remedy to alternative for potable water in a wide range of non-potable uses.
But, non-potable reuse is still faced with sizeable regulatory hurdles to triumph over. Socially
and politically substitution of ingesting water by using handled effluent and hurricane water for
non-potable
Makes use of has a big scope to alleviate the demand for brand new potable components. But,
indirect potable reuse of treated sewage will sometimes be considered (Muthu Pannirselvam,
2008).
2.3. Water use efficiency and productivity gains
Australia’s irrigation systems suffer a lot from problems associated with losses in storage and
conversion, on-farm losses and variable water use efficiency. The Murray Darling Basin
Commission has introduced that for the basin as a whole, about 25% of diversions for irrigation
are lost during conversion of water in rivers, 15% from canals and 24% is to the farms, and thus
only 36% of irrigation water is actually delivered to the irrigation field for the plants. Such losses
are too large and not atypical across the world (Barry Hart, 2017). The data for the
Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (MIA) do not include river conversion losses and they are
indicated on-farm losses greater than the overall average recorded. Increasing water use
efficiency is not the solution to cap the problems of irrigation. Technically, increase efficient
tells us how much water is consumed.
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Through the plans much water is wasted but, the actual wastage comes from now not being as
efficient as feasible with the water this is eaten up. Efficiency may be due to high consequent
environmental destruction processes that outcomes with reduced productivity. Growing more
food that uses a little amount of water alleviates the shortage, bringing to meal safety and puts
much reduced pressure on nature. The handiest way to increase water productiveness is to shift
water use with the aid of trading from low prices to excessive cost crops. To facilitate this
methods of water conserving by buying and selling regimes, market factors and other
complicated issues including stranding of assets all should be taken under consideration
(Wahlquist, 2008).
Over about 60 years ago, Australians’ agriculture productivity in dry land has expanded on
average by means of irrigation resulting to 3% increase per annum. This has stored Australian
farmers across the world competitive within the face of declining terms of alternate for
agricultural products and subsidies on agricultural manufacturing provided via some competition
(Dominic Stucker, 2014).
Even as lots of these enhancements have come from plant breeding, ailment and pest control and
soil and fertility management, advanced use of available water has additionally been very
critical. As an example, the productiveness of Australian rice production has extended from
approximately 0.4g/kg of water used to 0.8 g/kg during the last, two decades with a concomitant
discount in water used from approximately sixteen to 12.5Ml/Ha.
3. Selection of methodology
To attain the choice of selecting the above methods which are probably capable of remedy the
water scarcity in Australia several factors had been taken into consideration and people elements
encouraged its preference. The significance of these features that makes certain selected methods
are able to engage well with the people and the environment who are probably going to use it and
they're able to keep the sustainability in their software. The possibility solution chosen has to be
having a minimum damaging impact on water, soil, and air however rather extra outstanding
results that purpose curbing water scarcity. Further, the method selected is such that it meets
human health issues, is able to preserve the surroundings. the principal purpose of the above
alternative answers is to assist groups to conform to climate change, popular public is suggested
to exercise water conservation techniques, to decorate the socio-financial exchange and people’s
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development in rural areas mainly in better, price-effective and clean methods of water
conservation with the purpose of mitigating weather exchange in Australia and the arena at
massive. A possible answer that has a terrible effect on the surroundings and those will no longer
be of any importance but it increases concerns itself. However, human health is the most vital of
all, as a result, any method and activities which can be being performed should be directed to
selling the safety of human beings. An opportunity solution that has been selected must be such
that it boosts the dwelling elegant of people similar to their fitness with the useful resource of
smooth and availability of water for each day sports activities in Australia. On the manner to put
into effect those possible solutions a few important factors inclusive of fee should be considered
and be taken under consideration to ensure that the approach accompanied does now not visit
waste but cash has been used.
4. Consideration of Solutions
4.1. Introduction
The selection of opportunity solutions for use to clear up water scarcity in Australia is considered
in making sure water availability. There are immoderate opportunities that some of the possible
solutions might also additionally fail to characteristic or others might additionally moreover
feature as well. This features properly if they are well informed choices are made at the
preliminary start of the undertaking humans commonly take it gently with reference to making
selections whilst there are numerous to be had the opportunity and attention answer that is to be
considered, as an end result it is essential to be aware of this earlier than beginning at the
technique of enforcing. The water scarcity options answer to be had may not achieve success in
all areas and each person with numerous things, for example, the equal conventional strategies
which can be tough to be left for opportunity farming techniques. The ones increase concerns on
the need to encompass the one's considerations that will implement it will make sure that the
suitable informed choice is made and may be followed through clients so without issues. To
make sure that suitable interest is being set up a location, choice tiers have been evolved and this
includes dreams, assessment, and output.
The first level is the goal degree which offers the intention of water scarcity opportunity answers.
It identifies the cause of urban structures, water use overall performance, technical
enhancements, and complete device questioning. This attempts to answer the questions such as
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what cease result is being tried and the reason why it is being tried, it additionally addresses
different questions for instance if the intention is doable and if the fulfilment is the essential issue
we are handling. Low-price, sustainability and performance are the concern factors for this
venture, this will make it possible.
The second diploma of the assessment offers on the whole with the cease outcomes at the task.
It’s approximately the risks of the proposed opportunity solution of water scarcity after taking an
entire lot of attention on factors that affect the individual solution. Availability of land, water,
studies establishments’ available, suitable technology, political stability, availability of rate range
and useful environmental situations are considered. It is important to do not forget all the above-
stated essential factors due to the fact they contribute to the achievement or failure of this venture
of curbing water scarcity threat in Australia.
The 1/3 diploma is the result level that gives with the final product that has been produced and
assessment are vital issues consisting of problems confronted in some unspecified time in the
future of the process. For solving the meals disaster, there might be 4 outputs, this consists of
weather-smart farming, making funding in rural improvement, making an investment in
generation of innovation, elimination of biofuel subsidies and guidelines and boom of reform
funding of agricultural research and improvement. Outputs might be determined by means of the
method that has been used throughout the method of implementation and regulation of meal
safety that ensures the tremendous trendy is attained.
4.2. Social consideration
Social elements are studies and information that have an effect on a person's persona, lifestyle
and attitudes such factors that would have an effect on the implementation of an alternative
solution in order to resolve water shortage embody cultural components, religious factors, and
abilities. Within the cultural problem, everybody inside the global has a subculture tool with
many culture, customs, conduct styles and attitudes which guide them on expertise people act,
the knowledge they resolve issues and the way they do and decide approximately sports to be
completed. Which will make it feasible for opportunity answers to be successful, it has to be in
concord with the cultural exercise and beliefs of the humans, failure of this could lead to
rejection of the venture or application being carried out. The chosen opportunity answer for the
meals crisis should, therefore, be inspired by using a manner of the above cultural elements.
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The extent of information and abilities that humans have at the modern-day possibility solutions
to be delivered determines masses on their fulfilment. The availability of human power inside the
region wherein the opportunity solution is to be mounted location can be very essential. In case it
is not available our bodies concerned with this machine have to hire specialists so that it will
help human beings adapt briskly of looking for any alternative solution, it also makes superb that
any hassle or venture coming out inside the route of the way of operation are solved as fast as
viable in a manner that it does now not forestall the non-stop operation. Social interest allows in
bringing the opportunity answer that will adopt it.
4.3. Environmental consideration
These factors includes; water, air, and solid waste. The surroundings are crucial to human due to
the fact they attain provisions together with freshwater, food, feed, and power. Environmental
attention is a vital factor to recollect before installing place alternative answer that assists resolve
the food crisis. All of the opportunity solutions should lessen the negative impact on the
surroundings. while arising with every of the opportunity answers of water scarcity, it includes
using resources, power, and distinctive machines, so it is crucial to consider the negative effects
on the environment like air pollutants, soil degradation, and water.
4.4. Economic consideration
Whilst sporting out any task it is miles critical to perform some analysis on the economic
feasibility, as it's far essential determinant with the intention to be applied to make the informed
options to be possible solution of the water catastrophe. For monetary benefits issues such that
there could be stability most of the rate incurred and the nice of the service supplied, there can be
a manner called charge-benefit evaluation method which incorporates the fee incurred and the
blessings of each of the possible answers for the water scarcity. It suggests if an undertaking is
ideal or lousy savings consequently allows sound choice making.
5. Quantification and costing
Each of the given solutions to curb water shortage has an impact on one or more first-class
characteristics of a program which can either be good or bad with various effects. The primary
impact of a specific opportunity answer might not be without problems diagnosed whilst it's far
dealing with the huge-scale solution implementation. Changes and solutions may be identified
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through experts who are chargeable for coordinating the working of the program because they
have knowledge on how the applications and reforms paintings.
on the way to quantify the diverse blessings of each opportunity answer, many experts that are
involved and requested to rate each of the opportunity solutions based on their contribution to
every one of the nice capabilities that the answer ought to produce
Venture coins flow is the quantity of cash that goes inside and out of business. There are many
techniques of figuring out coins waft for instance payback period technique, accounting fee of
return method, internet present price method, and internal go back method. Coins go with the
flow helps in determining the financial sources utilized in an undertaking.
5.1. Techniques
There are many techniques that are used in quantification and cost determination of a project,
which leads to an incremental rate of analysis and benefit-cost analysis and they include;
a) Benefit-cost ratio
The technique allows in briefing the complete price or the cost of cash of a project or an
application. It is the ratio of benefits and charges which is expressed inside the form of money
currency. The advantage-fee ratio indicates the profitability index, it is an important device
inside the rating of the opportunity answers and it permits experts to quantify the quantity of
charge this is created consistent with unit of funding.
b) Incremental rate of return analysis
The method permits a research the financial go back of a venture where there are more
competing alternatives which can be used while a rate has already been incurred, and whilst there
is a want to determine if it is an awesome selection to use extra budget on identical alternative
answer. it may be performed through getting the difference the cash flow of the opportunity
answer this is much less with an opportunity answer this is extra and the difference among the
other options can be used to do an internal rate of going back evaluation. Primarily based on the
end result the maximum high-priced funding possibility may be decided on as it can have a better
incremental charge of going back. But, qualitative issues can also be taken into consideration.
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Incremental charge on evaluation moreover enables in evaluating standard advantages or losses
with every other venture, it allows in choosing an opportunity option.
5.2. Cost quantification
Costs that encountered during the project implementation will measure as tons as charge for
quantity the project. The charge is the fee of sources used, rate of experts and upkeep of
generation and the advantages may be effortlessly quantified. The motive for price quantification
is to decide the money value to be offered from an economic angle. There are various gains that
encompass distinct opportunity solutions. The maximum essential hassle is the estimation of the
cost of each of the opportunity answer in advance than implementing the mission or software.
The huge enterprise commonly has their very personal methods of estimating price throughout
their first-rate tasks and programs. Estimation of charge ought to be primary precedence aim of
any challenge or software and is essential to be made aware earlier than starting this gadget.
There are fashions that assist in the estimation of charge for example gain of charge-conscious
version, it estimates the fee-based mostly on the man or woman of the possible answer that has
been chosen for use to solve the water menace.
6. Conclusion
Australia has experienced a serious problem of water scarcity in recent decades. Water scarcity
refers to the lack of sufficient available water resources to meet all demands. This paper has
analysed the problem of water scarcity in Australia and suggest some viable alleviation
strategies. It will be done by focusing on improving related technology and desalination plants.
There are several factors contributing to this phenomenon. Firstly, the most obvious reason is the
growing trend of overpopulation in Australia and consequently increased food demand.
Therefore, more water resources are required for irrigation. Secondly, climate change has caused
a change in the seasonality of rainfall and in the intensity of falls, which can have a detrimental
impact on water supplies. Due to these changes, there will be an increase in evaporation because
of increased temperatures. As a result, there will be less available water to meet daily demands.
Addressing this problem is likely to be of great benefit to the Australia community in many
respects.
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There are several alleviation strategies that could be implemented to minimize the effects of
water shortage. Firstly, improving irrigation technology may be effective. For example, since
farmers are in need of more water supplies, closed pipes can be provided for better irrigation. In
this way, pipes can have direct access to crops and plants so that limited water can be sent to
more crops and plants. While there is a significant investment in irrigation equipment and
following labor need in the short term, it will still be beneficial in the long run. Secondly,
construct desalination plants may change this stage. Desalination plants can remove the salt from
seawater. While it may be expensive and increase CO2 emissions, it can provide a large amount
of freshwater for agriculture and urban residents.
Finally, water scarcity in Australia has become a serious issue. Its causes include population
growth and climate change. Viable solutions include advanced technology and increasing the
number of desalination plants. The water shortage needs to be addressed without delay as it is
likely to reduce the quality of life even further in the future.
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References
Barbier, E., 2019. The Water Paradox: Overcoming the Global Crisis in Water Management.
New Haven: Yale University Press.
Barry Hart, J. D., 2017. Decision Making in Water Resources Policy and Management: An
Australian Perspective. London: Elsevier Science.
Colin Chartres, S. V., 2010. Out of Water: From Abundance to Scarcity and How to Solve the
World's Water Problems, Portable Documents. Melbourne: FT Press.
Dominic Stucker, E. L.-G., 2014. Adaptation to Climate Change through Water Resources
Management: Capacity, Equity and Sustainability. London: Routledge.
Fishman, C., 2012. The Big Thirst: The Secret Life and Turbulent Future of Water. Sydney:
Simon and Schuster.
Grafton, R. Q., 2014. Global Water: Issues and Insights. 2nd ed. Melbourne: ANU Press.
Jean-Marc Faurès, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Jippe Hoogeveen,
J. T. Winpenny, 2012. Coping with Water Scarcity: An Action Framework for Agriculture and
Food Security. 1st ed. New York: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
John Quiggin, S. C. T. M., 2012. Water Policy Reform: Lessons in Sustainability from the
Murray Darling Basin. Chelternam: Edward Elgar Publishing.
Karen Hussey, S. D., 2007. Managing Water for Australia: The Social and Institutional
Challenges. 1st ed. Sydney: Csiro Publishing.
Luis Santos Pereira, I. C. I. I., 2009. Coping with Water Scarcity: Addressing the Challenges.
2nd ed. London: Springer Science & Business Media.
Maestu, J., 2013. Water Trading and Global Water Scarcity: International Experiences. London:
Routledge.
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Morgan, R. A., 2015. Running Out?: Water in Western Australia. Sydney: UWA Publishing.
Muthu Pannirselvam, L. S. G. G. L. P. A. N. S. H., 2008. Water Scarcity and Ways to Reduce
the Impact: Management Strategies and Technologies for Zero Liquid Discharge and Future
Smart Cities. New York: Springer.
Prosser, I. P., 2011. Water: Science and Solutions for Australia. Sydney: CSIRO.
Richter, B., 2014. Chasing Water: A Guide for Moving from Scarcity to Sustainability.
Washington DC: Island Press.
Suhas Pralhad Wani, J. R. T. Y. O., 2009. Rainfed Agriculture: Unlocking the Potential.
Massachusetts: CABI,.
Troy, P., 2008. Troubled Waters: Confronting the Water Crisis in Australia's Cities. Sydney:
ANU E Press.
Wahlquist, A., 2008. Thirsty Country: Options for Australia. Crows Nest: Allen & Unwin.
Zetland, D., 2011. The End of Abundance: Economic Solutions to Water Scarcity. Amsterdam:
Aguanomics Press.
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APPENDICES
Appendix 1
a) Tables showing select countries annual water ratio and availability in Australia
b) Table 3: surface water irrigation
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Appendix 2
a) Figure 1. Water flows to be managed in irrigation within a whole-system approach.
b) Figure 2. Sydney’s water supply in relation to its population growth
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.
c) Fig 3. Rice irrigation water use efficiency trend -Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area
(MIA)
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