Water Issues in AustraliaForeign Studies BForeign Studies B5 December 2017

Lecture OutlineLecture Outline

• Causes of water shortage in Australia• Investigating water usage and water problemsInvestigating water usage and water problems

from the viewpoint of three important stake holders (利害関係者):holders (利害関係者):– 1.– 2.– 3.

(Who needs water?)

Lecture OutlineLecture Outline

• Causes of water shortage in Australia• Investigating water usage and water problemsInvestigating water usage and water problems

from the viewpoint of three important stake holders (利害関係者):holders (利害関係者):– 1. Agriculture (and other industries)– 2. Households (people)– 3. The Environment

Lecture OutlineLecture Outline

f h i li• Causes of water shortage in Australia• Investigating water usage and water problems g g g p

from the viewpoint of three important stake holders (利害関係者):( )

– 1. Agriculture (and other industries)– 2 Households (people)2. Households (people)– 3. The Environment (Our particular focus today is

Australia’s most important river system theAustralia s most important river system, the Murray Darling River Basin)

Part 1Part 1

Water Shortage CausesWater Shortage – Causes

1.

Water Shortage CausesWater Shortage – Causes

1. Variable rainfall(Long periods of no rainfall = )(Long periods of no rainfall __________)

2.3.44.

Water shortage

Water Shortage CausesWater Shortage – Causes

1. Variable rainfall(Long periods of no rainfall = drought)(Long periods of no rainfall drought)

2.3.44.

Water shortage

Water Shortage CausesWater Shortage – Causes

1. Variable rainfall(Long periods of no rainfall = drought)(Long periods of no rainfall drought)

2. Naturally dry environment3. Overuse of water resources4 Climate Change / Global Warming4. Climate Change / Global Warming

Water shortage

Water Shortage CausesWater Shortage – Causes

1. Variable rainfall(Long periods of no rainfall = drought)(Long periods of no rainfall drought)

2. Naturally dry environment3. Overuse of water resources4 Climate Change / Global Warming4. Climate Change / Global Warming

Water shortageHow to prepare for a future with limited water?How to prepare for a future with limited water?

Part 2Part 2

Part 2Part 2

• Who consumes water the most in Australia?• What patterns in water consumption can weWhat patterns in water consumption can we

see between 2000-2016?

1

4610.0 Water Account, Australia, 2004-05, ABS

2

4610.0 Water Account, Australia, 2013-14, ABS

3

4610.0 Water Account, Australia, 2015-16, ABS

Part 2Part 2

• Who consumes water the most in Australia?• What patterns in water consumption can weWhat patterns in water consumption can we

see between 2000-2016?

But note the differences by state/territory…4

Water Consumption for Agriculture by State/Territory

4610.0 Water Account, Australia, 2015-16, ABS

The Agricultural IndustryThe Agricultural Industry

The Agricultural IndustryThe Agricultural Industry

• What happens if the agriculture industry doesn’t have enough water?g

The Agricultural Industry5

g y

Water Affects Affects theWater Shortage/ Drought

regional economies

Affects the national economy

Decrease in crop

harvests

Affects employment

Affects export

partners

Affects farms & farmers

Affects related

businesses

Affects regional

security??farmers businesses security??

The Agricultural IndustryThe Agricultural Industry

• Inefficient / Over-use of water

The Agricultural IndustryThe Agricultural Industry

• Inefficient / Over-use of water– Irrigationg

The Agricultural IndustryThe Agricultural Industry

• Inefficient / Over-use of water– Irrigationg

The Agricultural IndustryThe Agricultural Industry

ffi i / f• Inefficient / Over-use of water– Irrigation

• Solution:– Improving irrigation systems and methods (usingImproving irrigation systems and methods (using

technology)– Using reuse (grey) waterUsing reuse (grey) water– Researching ways to grow more food with less

waterwater– Changing crops

HouseholdsHouseholds

HouseholdsHouseholds

• Where do households use (waste) the most water?

6

HouseholdsHouseholds

• What happens if households don’t have enough water?g

HouseholdsHouseholds

• Solutions for water wastage in households:

HouseholdsHouseholds

• Solutions for water wastage in households:– Water restrictions

Water Restrictions – Examples 7

Water RestrictionsWater Restrictions

HouseholdsHouseholds

• Solutions for water wastage in households:– Water restrictions– Rebate programs (e.g. encouraging households to

install rainwater tanks & grey water (reuse water)install rainwater tanks & grey water (reuse water) systems through financial incentives)

Rainwater Tanks

Grey water (reuse water) systemsGrey water (reuse water) systems

Grey water (reuse water) systemsGrey water (reuse water) systems

Grey water (reuse water) systemsGrey water (reuse water) systems

8

SOURCES OF WATER FOR HOUSEHOLDS

4613.0 – Australia’s Environment: Issues and Trends, Jan 2010 (Water Conservation)

HouseholdsHouseholds

• Solutions for water wastage in households:– Water restrictions– Rebate programs (e.g. encouraging households to

install rainwater tanks & grey water (reuse water)install rainwater tanks & grey water (reuse water) systems through financial incentives)Installation of water conservation devices– Installation of water conservation devices

Water Conservation Devices

9

HOUSEHOLDS WITH WATER CONSERVATION DEVICES

Source: ABS, 2007, Environmental Issues: People's Views and Practices, March 2007 (cat. no. 4602.0).

4613.0 – Australia’s Environment: Issues and Trends, Jan 2010 (Water Conservation)

HouseholdsHouseholds

• Solutions for water wastage in households:– Water restrictions– Rebate programs (e.g. encouraging households to

install rainwater tanks & grey water (reuse water)install rainwater tanks & grey water (reuse water) systems through financial incentives)Installation of water conservation devices– Installation of water conservation devices

– National water efficiency standards (indicate ffi i f h h ld li )water efficiency of household appliances)

Water Efficiency LabelsWater Efficiency Labels

Water Efficiency LabelsWater Efficiency Labels

HouseholdsHouseholds

• Solutions for water wastage in households:– Water restrictions– Rebate programs (e.g. encouraging households to

install rainwater tanks & grey water (reuse water)install rainwater tanks & grey water (reuse water) systems through financial incentives)Installation of water conservation devices– Installation of water conservation devices

– National water efficiency standards (indicate ffi i f h h ld li )water efficiency of household appliances)

Collaboration between government, consumers and business/industry

The Environment

The Environment• What happens when a river suffers from a

“water shortage”?

The Environment• Increasingly more understanding and concern

about the health of rivers, and the effect of water shortages on the environment:g

The Environment• Increasingly more understanding and concern

about the health of rivers, and the effect of water shortages on the environment:g– Rivers can “die” (irreversible damage to river bed

chemistry)chemistry)– Increased salinity content

Aff fl d f– Affects flora and fauna

The Environment• Increasingly more understanding and concern

about the health of rivers, and the effect of water shortages on the environment:g– Rivers can “die” (irreversible damage to river bed

chemistry)chemistry)– Increased salinity content

Aff fl d f– Affects flora and fauna

Which of course also affects peopleWhich of course also affects people who use rivers and surrounding

areas for recreation, cultural purposes, business, etc

The Environment• Solution?

The Environment• Solution?

– “Returning” water to the environment through the Murray-Darling Basin Plan

The Murray Darling River BasinThe Murray-Darling River Basin

• Most important & biggest river system• Australia’s most important food-producingAustralia s most important food producing

region (Australia’s “Food Bowl”)R h h 4 d 1 i• Runs through 4 states and 1 territory

10

11

Water Storage in the Murray-Darling Basin12

July 2000 to June 2006

From the Year Book Australia 2009 - 2010

The Murray Darling River BasinThe Murray-Darling River Basin

• Solution:– Murray-Darling Basin Plany g

• Returning 2750 gigalitres of water to the river system

“Water Buy Back”

Type 1: The government (=tax payers) buys

13

Type 1: The government (=tax payers) buys water from farmers, irrigators, etc, and this water is returned to the environment.

Type 2: The government (=tax payers) fund projects to improve infrastructure (e.g. irrigation infrastructure) on farms. The water that is saved thanks to these projects is returned to the environment.

The Murray Darling River BasinThe Murray-Darling River Basin

• Solution:– Murray-Darling Basin Plany g

• Returning 2750 gigalitres of water to the river system

But, there are problems…d ff h…different perspectives among the various

stakeholders

The Murray Darling River BasinThe Murray Darling River Basin

• Solution:– Murray Darling Basin Plany g

• Returning 2750 gigalitres of water to the river system

– But… there are problems…E i li /S

“It’s not enough! We need to return more water to the

environment ”• Environmentalists/States:• Farmers/Irrigators/States:

environment.”

“Whose water will be returned? How will it affect our businesses and

communities?”

The Murray Darling River BasinThe Murray Darling River Basin

• Solution:– Murray Darling Basin Plany g

• Returning 2750 gigalitres of water to the river system

– But… there are problems…E i li /S

“It’s not enough! We need to return more water to the

environment ”• Environmentalists/States:• Farmers/Irrigators/States:

environment.”

“Whose water will be returned? How will it affect our businesses and

communities?”

The Murray Darling River BasinThe Murray Darling River Basin

• Solution:– Murray Darling Basin Plany g

• Returning 2750 gigalitres of water to the river system

– But… there are problems…E i li /S

“It’s not enough! We need to return more water to the

environment ”• Environmentalists/States:• Farmers/Irrigators/States:

environment.”

“Whose water will be returned? How will it affect our businesses and

communities?”Recent research is suggesting that

some communities have been ti l ff t d b th Pl (negatively affected by the Plan (e.g.

increase in unemployment)

The Murray Darling River BasinThe Murray Darling River Basin

• Solution:– Murray Darling Basin Plany g

• Returning 2750 gigalitres of water to the river system

– But… there are problems…E i li /S• Environmentalists/States:

• Farmers/Irrigators/States: Is there a solution that will make everyone happy? Or will there always be a “loser”?y

Concluding thoughtsConcluding thoughts…

Selected References• ABS 4610.0 – Water Account, Australia, 2015-2016

• Bureau of Meteorology (Australian Government) 117 Years of Australian Rain

• Northern Basin Review: Technical Overview of the Socioeconomic Analysis – Interim Report, Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Australian

Government, October 2016

• ABS 4613.0 – Australia’s Environment: Issues and Trends, Jan 2010 (Water Conservation)

• ABS 4618.0 – Water Use On Australian Farms, 2013-2014

• ABS 4610.0 – Water Account, Australia, 2013-2014

• ABS 1301.0 – Year Book Australia, 2012 (Environment, Water)

• ABS 4610.0 – Water Account, Australia, 2012-13

• ABS 4610.0 – Water Account, Australia, 2009-10

• Plain English Summary of the Proposed Basin Plan—including explanatory notes, November 2011, Murray-Darling Basin Authority,

Australian Government

• http://www.savewater.com.au/products/product-labelling; http://www.savewater.com.au/products/rebates-incentives

• ABS 4613 0 Australia’s Environment Issues and Trends 2007 (Esp Feature Article Water in Australia)• ABS 4613.0 – Australia’s Environment: Issues and Trends, 2007 (Esp. Feature Article: Water in Australia)

• ABS 4613.0 – Australia’s Environment: Issues and Trends, 2006

• ABS 1301.0 – Year Book Australia, 2003 (Esp. Environmental views and behaviour)

• ABS 4610 0 Water Account Australia 2004 05• ABS 4610.0 – Water Account, Australia, 2004-05

• ABS 1301.0 Year Book Australia 2009-2010

• “Can Australia Overcome its Water Scarcity Problems?”, Colin Chartres and John Williams, Journal of Developments in Sustainable

Agriculture 1: 17-24 2006Agriculture 1: 17 24, 2006

• Australian Government, National Water Commission, http://www.nwc.gov.au

• www.environment.gov.au/water/australia/index.html