Alternative Water Sources for Katherine, NT: A Sustainability Report

This report addresses the issue of perfluorooctanesulphonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) contamination in Katherine, NT, impacting the local aquifer and drinking water supply. The study investigates the need for alternative water sources due to the contamination from fire-fighting activities at the RAAF base. The report highlights the implementation of water treatment measures and the absence of detectable PFAS levels exceeding Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. The report examines potential alternative water sources, considering the time frame needed for aquifer remediation or treatment plant upgrades. It further discusses the role of the Local Council elected member and the introduction of water conservation measures. The study also analyses the high water usage in Katherine and the significant water wastage through leakages, and the need to explore sustainable water systems, including stormwater and wastewater recycling, to ensure a long-term, safe water supply for the residents. The report concludes with a call to action for the Katherine residents to utilize alternative water sources and collaborate with the council to ensure a sustainable water supply.

Running head: SUSTAINABILITY
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Authors Note

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Introduction
The residents of Katherine located in NT have been experiencing contamination of
perfluorooctanesulphonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Therefore, the
residents of Katherine and local base RAAFB at Tindall is drawing drinking water from the
local aquifer. However, for doing so, they need the considerable cost to be implemented to
take water treatment measures.
There are no PFAS detectable at the levels of Australian Drinking Guidelines. Based
on this factors the study elucidates an alternative source of water supply with the help of
Local Council elected member so that the source could continue providing them water for
almost two years till the completion of the treatment plant.
Discussion
Providing a new and safe source of water supply to Katherine is the new agenda of the
local council elected member to ensure that they receive a long-term solution to prevent the
contamination (Beh et al. 2014). However, the pilot treatment plan offered by Defence is not
working in the present that is used to remove PFAS from Katherine's groundwater supply. In
order to mitigate this issues, an alternative power supply has been planned for providing
long-term supply. This alternative source of water supply is associated with the project that is
investigating on renewed groundwater sources.
According to Cook et al. (2014), a program of drilling investigation will be
established with an aim of surveying the sites for water supply within a short period of time.
The elected council members have introduced a compulsory water conservation measures to
take the pressure out from the groundwater supply. Therefore, it can be said that odd
numbered properties can provide water only three days a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays
and Saturdays from a time duration of 6 pm to 8 am. On the contrary, even number properties

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can provide the water supply on three days in a week such that on Tuesdays, Thursdays and
Sundays from 6 pm to 8 am.
As stated by Gurung et al. (2015), conservation of water supply during this hours and
days of the week can help them ensure safe health in protecting the local community from the
contamination. It has been seen that Katherine is one of the highest user of water supply in
the country with around twice the national average. Source report has found that one of the
largest areas of waste is done through leakages of almost 500, 00 litres of waters per year on
an average basis.
Working together with the government and helping developers the Katherine residents
can evaluate and implement sustainable water systems in cities for a period of two years until
the test. These alternative systems also include recycling of stormwater and waste waters
through aquifers, stormwater harvesting and conservation of water for environmental
resilience.
Conclusion
Therefore, from the study, it can be said that the resident of Katherine needs to
immediately report to the elected member of the council to plan and utilise water trial in order
to adopt alternative source sustainable water supply. The conservation and management of
aquifer for the purpose of drinking water can be helpful for recycling the underground water
introducing clean water for a huge number of users in the area. Therefore, through the
partners, they can set new knowledge, safety designs in the governance framework.

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Reference list
Beh, E.H., Dandy, G.C., Maier, H.R. and Paton, F.L., 2014. Optimal sequencing of water
supply options at the regional scale incorporating alternative water supply sources and
multiple objectives. Environmental Modelling & Software, 53, pp.137-153.
Cook, S., Sharma, A.K. and Gurung, T.R., 2014. Evaluation of alternative water sources for
commercial buildings: A case study in Brisbane, Australia. Resources, Conservation and
Recycling, 89, pp.86-93.
Gurung, T.R., Stewart, R.A., Beal, C.D. and Sharma, A.K., 2015. Smart meter enabled water
end-use demand data: a platform for the enhanced infrastructure planning of contemporary
urban water supply networks. Journal of Cleaner Production, 87, pp.642-654.