Water resources - Management and Development - South Australia
South Australia
What are the key water resource management issues facing South Australia?
The State Water Plan defines the key water resource management issues to be:
- Ensuring sustainability, with the availability of water of sufficient quantity and quality for human use and the environment seen as fundamental to maintaining and improving the quality of life of all South Australians;
- South Australia's water is precious and must be managed and used according to the principles of ecologically sustainable development under which water is to be used so as to maximise its economic, social and environmental returns on a sustainable basis;
- South Australia's water resources must be managed in an integrated manner with all other natural resources;
- South Australians have the right to be informed, consulted and involved in the management of water.
Water resources management aims to ensure sustainable development of our water resources, underpinning a secure environmental, economic and social future for the State.
The most significant threats to our water resources are:
- The Mount Lofty Ranges is subject to development that can pollute its streams. The area has also undergone substantial farm dam development and suffered extensive stream ecosystem degradation. Significant water quality impacts have been measured in the metropolitan water supply catchments.
- The River Murray, also a major water source for urban and irrigation uses, is subject to increasing salt loads from interstate and from within South Australia which will lead to significant increases in salinity in the coming decades. Its ecosystems, including the floodplain, have been altered by significant flow reduction, change in flow patterns and pollutant discharges that have led to symptoms of degradation, such as constriction and closure of the Murray Mouth and more frequent blooms of nuisance algae.
- The level of development of many of our prescribed groundwater water resources is approaching or has reached the sustainable limit, and usage has been restricted to this level. In some cases, the sustainable limit has been exceeded, causing unacceptable rises in salinity and drops in water level or pressure.
- Inappropriate development or use of the highly-valued water supplies and ecosystems of the Lake Eyre Basin and Great Artesian Basin, which are vulnerable to unsustainable development, require planned management measures and interstate agreements to be negotiated to manage this risk.
- Extensive clearing of the agricultural areas of the State has led to land and watercourse salinisation and erosion of catchments and streambeds, with consequential impacts on the productivity of the land and the health of streams.
- Metropolitan estuaries and coastal marine environments have been impacted by polluted stormwater and effluent discharges to Gulf St Vincent. Polluted stormwater has also altered flow regimes in our rivers.
There is a strong demand for water to support economic development. The State has sufficient water for our present and future needs, provided that we are careful, flexible and innovative in the use of our water resources and water infrastructure.
The State Water Plan identifies the following future goals:
- Ensuring continuous improvement in how the water resources are managed in the State. Plans will be reviewed on a regular basis to allow the incorporation of the latest information available and to maintain consistency with the State Water Plan. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation are identified as vital procedures to allow measurement of the change in condition of the resource. The performance of the policies within management plans will be assessed on how they meet catchment and stream health, and economic indicators.
- The principles of ecologically sustainable development will be adhered to. A precautionary approach to water resources management and use is advocated.
- Developing further the integrated management approach to water resource management. In the State's multiple-use catchments it is important to ensure that catchment development, and the consequent use of the water that occurs, is managed in a way that protects the instream, floodplain and estuary users of the catchment. Monitoring stream health will have a high priority.
- In many areas of the State, water is already fully allocated and further economic development hinges on making greater use of existing resources. This is achieved by encouraging;
- The use of improved irrigation efficiency
- The use of alternative sources of water such as urban stormwater and sewage effluent
- The importation of water by pipeline into areas where greater economic benefit can be achieved.
Surface water resource management in South Australia
Map of South Australia's surface water management areas
Select a point on the map to find out more about that surface water management area.
The management goals and objectives are comprehensively defined in the State Water Plan and the Water resources Act,
1997.The surface water resources within the State are required to be managed in such a way that those who rely on the resource will obtain the best environmental, social and economic gain from them, whilst not compromising the ability of future generations to enjoying the same benefits. The South Australian Water Resources Act 1997 places prime importance on protecting water resources against the detrimental effects of use and development and preserving ecosystems that depend them.
The State Water Plan, prepared by the Minister and sets the strategic directions for water resources management throughout the State.
Catchment water management boards are required to prepare catchment water management plans to establish, and provide for the implementation of, catchment priorities. Within prescribed areas, Catchment Water Management Boards or Water Resources Planning Committees are required to prepare water allocation plans defining how water is to be allocated. These plans must ensure that the environmental flow requirements are met before water is allocated for commercial use.
Groundwater resource management in South Australia
Map of South Australia's Groundwater Provinces
Select a point on the map to find out more about that groundwater province.
The management goals and objectives are comprehensively defined in the State Water Plan and the Water Resources Act,1997.
The surface water resources within the State are required to be managed in such a way that those who rely on the resource will obtain the best environmental, social and economic gain from them, whilst not compromising the ability of future generations to enjoying the same benefits. The South Australian Water Resources Act 1997 places prime importance on protecting water resources against the detrimental effects of use and development and preserving ecosystems that depend them.
The State Water Plan, prepared by the Minister and sets the strategic directions for water resources management throughout the State.
Catchment water management boards are required to prepare catchment water management plans to establish, and provide for the implementation of, catchment priorities. Within prescribed areas, Catchment Water Management Boards or Water Resources Planning Committees are required to prepare water allocation plans defining how water is to be allocated. These plans must ensure that the environmental flow requirements are met before water is allocated for commercial use.
References
- Government of South Australia, GSA (1997) Water Resources Act 1997, Government of South Australia.
- Government of South Australia, GSA (2000) State Water Plan 2000, Government of South Australia.
Further information
- South Australia Water Resources Assessment 2000 Report
- South Australia Water Resources Assessment 2000 Technical Report
- Link to data available for download on the:
- Link to the Map Maker to make a map using this information.
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