Water restrictions in Australia

Water restrictions are currently in place in many regions and cities of Australia in response to chronic shortages resulting from drought. Depending upon the location, these can include restrictions on watering lawns, using sprinkler systems, washing vehicles, hosing in paved areas and refilling swimming pools, among others. Increasing population and evidence of drying climates, coupled with corresponding reductions in the supply of drinking water, have led various state governments to consider alternative water sources to supplement existing sources, and to implement "water inspectors" who can issue penalties to those who waste water.

As of July 2007 some areas and towns have no water restrictions, including the Northern Territory, Regional Tasmania, Newcastle, Bathurst and Dubbo. There are also a few parts of Australia where the water storage levels are at or close to 100%, such as Taree.

Many states describe the different levels of water restrictions in terms of "stages": starting at Stage 1, for the least restrictive, going up as far as Stage 8. The highest level reached in the current drought has been stage 7 for Kingaroy. There are different definitions given to each "stage" in different States.

Water restrictions by State or Territory

Australian Capital Territory

There are presently four stages of temporary water restrictions which can be imposed by ACTEW Corporation: [ [http://www.actew.com.au/publications/TemporaryWaterRestrictionsScheme.pdf Document ] ]

Although some regions of Queensland have had traditionally high rainfalls, some regions of Queensland have been subject to the toughest water restrictions in place in Australia. The highest level of water restrictions reached in the current drought has been stage 7 for Kingaroy. Toowoomba, Brisbane and South East Queensland are currently at Level 6 restrictions.

On 13 May 2005, 13 local councils in southeast Queensland, including those in Brisbane, agreed to impose Stage 1 water restrictions, due to drying dams. [cite news
author = Staff writer
title = Tap tightened on water use
work = The Courier-Mail
publisher = News Limited
page = 1
date = 2005-05-13
accessdate = 2008-03-17 ] These restrictions were increased to Stage 2 from 3 October 2005, which at the time were described as the "toughest water restrictions in southeast Queensland's history", except the Gold Coast which had been on Stage 5 restrictions since 2004. [cite news
first = Jennifer
last = Dudley
title = Water crackdown toughest yet
work = The Courier-Mail
publisher = News Limited
page = 11
date = 2005-10-01
accessdate = 2008-03-17 ] Stage 3 water restrictions were imposed on the region from 13 June 2006 amid projections that water storage levels would drop to 5% within 26 months. [cite news
first = Chris
last = Griffith
title = Water crisis to hit new depths
work = The Courier-Mail
publisher = News Limited
page = 3
date = 2006-06-13
accessdate = 2008-03-17 ] Water restrictions continued to increase, to Stage 4 from 1 November 2006, [ [http://www.qwc.qld.gov.au/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=41 Level 4 restrictions start 1 November] , Queensland Water Commission] stage 5 from 10 April 2007, and up to Stage 6 from 23 November 2007.

The Queensland Water Commission has relaxed water restrictions, with the introduction of High Level Water restrictions as of 31 July 2008. [http://www.qwc.qld.gov.au/myfiles/uploads/high%20level%20restrictions/high%20level%20restrictions.pdf]

Other towns and regions of Queensland are subject to different levels of water restrictions, as set out below:
*Cairns - permanent restrictions
*Gold Coast - stage 6 from 23 November 2007, stage 5 from 10 April 2007, stage 4 from 1 November 2006. The Hinze Dam, which is the Gold Coast's main water supply reached 100% in January 2008 and the coast now has no water restrictions.
*Kingaroy - Stage 7 from 1 October 2007 [ [http://www.kingaroy.qld.gov.au/pdfs/200709waternewsletter.pdf Water Restriction Document from Kingaroy Council] ]
*Toowoomba - stage 6 from 23 November 2007, stage 5 from 26 September 2006. In 2006, the town council proposed the use of recycled wastewater to supplement town water from dams, however the scheme was rejected by the town's population and the town has since resorted to drilling artesian and sub-artesian bores as an alternative source of drinking water.
*Townsville - stage 2 from 15 November 2006, stage 1 from 12 Feb 2007

Source: [http://www.qwc.qld.gov.au/tiki-index.php?page=Water%20restrictions Queensland Water Restrictions] , Queensland Water Commission

South Australia

The different levels of residential water restrictions which have been applied to different regions of South Australia by SA Water are as follows:

Water restrictions have been employed in various Western Australian towns when poor rainfall has led to water shortages. For instance, in the summer of 1977-78, Perth was subject to a total sprinkler ban. [cite news
first = Ben
last = Ruse
title = Total sprinkler ban warning
publisher = The West Australian
date = 2001-10-13
quote = But Minister Assisting the Treasurer Nick Griffiths said a total ban - not seen since 1977 - would be put in place only if people were not able to save water. ]
Newman and Nullagine experienced water restrictions from 1991 and 1992 onwards as the result of drought. [cite news
first = Carmelo
last = Amalfi
title = Drought Towns 'used To Water Restrictions'
publisher = The West Australian
page = 31
date = 1996-10-05
accessdate = 2008-03-12 ] Similarly, resort towns Yallingup and Dunsborough experienced water restrictions in 1997 during a heatwave, [cite news
first = Carmelo
last = Amalfi
coauthors = Pennells, Steve
title = Heatwave Runs Cours
publisher = The West Australian
page = 11
date = 1997-01-04
accessdate = 2008-03-12 ] and Kalgoorlie-Boulder had temporary water restrictions imposed during 1998 due to shortages in its reservoirs (which contain water pumped through the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme). [cite news
first = Kristen
last = Watts
title = Water restrictions in Kalgoorlie-Boulder may be lifted this week
publisher = The West Australian
page = 26
date = 1998-03-31
accessdate = 2008-03-12 ]

A Stage 1 ban on using reticulation sprinklers between 9.00am and 6.00pm was imposed on Perth residents in 1996,cite news
first = Carmelo
last = Amalfi
title = Winter Rain Fails To Fill WA Dams
publisher = The West Australian
page = 7
date = 1998-08-19
accessdate = 2008-03-12
quote = The sprinkler ban was introduced in 1996, the first restriction on Perth's water since the summer of 1977-78. ] and remains in place to this day. This was the first water restriction imposed on the state's most populous city since the total spinkler ban in 1978. From September 2001, users of the Integrated Water Supply Scheme (covering Perth, its surrounds and towns on the Goldfields pipeline) were subject to Stage 4 restrictions, only permitted to use reticulation sprinklers two days per week, according to a roster.

The town of Northampton in the Mid-West encountered a water shortage in 2006 where its underground aquifer could not meet demand. Stage 5 watering restrictions were imposed,cite news
first = Suellen
last = Jerrard
title = Tough sprinkler bans hit SW towns
publisher = The West Australian
page = 42
date = 2006-10-12
accessdate = 2008-03-12
quote = One-day-a-week sprinkler restrictions have already been imposed in Northampton, in the Mid-West ] and the Water Corporation resorted to carting tankers of water to the town to maintain the supply. [cite news
first = Suellen
last = Jerrard
title = Country in crisis as water tanks run dry
publisher = The West Australian
page = 13
date = 2006-12-18
accessdate = 2008-03-12
quote = The Water Corporation has started carting water to Northampton, one of the areas hardest hit by the drought, because its ground water aquifer could not meet demand. ]

Stage 4 water restrictions were imposed in the South-West towns of Bridgetown, Balingup, Boyup Brook, Hester, Kirup, Greenbushes and Mullalyup from 13 October 2006.

On 1 October 2007, water restrictions were expanded to cover the entire state, including those towns serviced by utilities other than the Water Corporation. Under the new system, all areas of the state in the region south of Kalbarri and Kalgoorlie (including Perth and most of the state's population) which use scheme water are subject to Stage 4 restrictions. [ [http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/wa/consol_reg/waub2007297/s6.html reg 6] , Water Agencies (Water Use) By-Laws 2007 (WA)] Areas north of the dividing line are subject to Stage 2 restrictions. [ [http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/wa/consol_reg/waub2007297/s5.html reg 5] , Water Agencies (Water Use) By-Laws 2007 (WA)] Furthermore, whereas the water restrictions had previously only restricted the use of mains water to water gardens and lawns by sprinkler, under the new water restrictions unlicensed bore operators in Perth and its surrounds are restricted to watering their gardens three times per week. [ [http://www.waterwisewaysforwa.com.au/go/secondary-navigation/faqs Waterwise Ways for WA - FAQs] ] This was to slow the depletion of underground aquifers from which Perth sources much of its drinking water.

Efforts are being made to secure alternative water sources to ease water shortages in the Integrated Water Supply Scheme. Integral to the Government's strategy is the construction of desalination plants to service Perth. One has already been constructed in Kwinana, which supplies 17% of the city's water consumption and is the largest desalination plant in both the Southern and Eastern hemispheres. [ [http://www.watercorporation.com.au/S/sources_of_perths_water.cfm?uid=7488-4865-5888-4035 Integrated Water Supply System ] ] A second proposed desalination plant near Binningup is expected to be completed by 2011. [ [http://www.watercorporation.com.au/D/desalination_plant2.cfm Southern Seawater Desalination Project ] ] A trial has also been announced to treat wastewater and pump it into underground aquifers to undergo natural filtration as it returns to the dwindling groundwater supply. [ [http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/perth-tests-treated-sewage-for-drinking/2007/01/01/1167500065933.html Perth tests treated sewage for drinking] The Age, January 2, 2007]

Water storage levels

Sources: [https://www.wsaa.asn.au/frameset2.html Water Services Association of Australia] , [http://www.melbournewater.com.au/ Melbourne Water] [http://www.qwc.qld.gov.au] (listed as percent)

Criticism

Water restrictions has been criticised by experts for hampering the economy and the lifestyles of people. [http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/restrictions-off-in-five-years-says-usage-report/2007/05/27/1180205077457.html]

The National Water Commission chief has argued that Australia needs a source of water that is independent of the rainfall. Desalination is touted as the solution for potentially unlimited water use. [http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/unlimited-water-could-be-on-tap/2007/05/17/1178995330217.html]

Former Australian Environment Minister, Malcolm Turnbull says that it does not make sense to have permanent water restrictions just as there are no electricity restrictions. [http://www.malcolmturnbull.com.au/news/article.aspx?ID=495]

See also

*Climate change in Australia
*Global warming
*Drought in Australia
*Outdoor water-use restriction

References