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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