Water scarcity and demand
The mismatch between increasing water demand and decline in water availability is the most critical resource issue in Australia. Population growth, intensive agricultural development, urbanisation, industrial growth and environment requirements are all increasing demand for water. Understanding how we meet this expanding demand in the longer-term is vital. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Australian households and businesses consumed the equivalent of almost 50 times the volume of Sydney Harbour - 24,909 gigalitres (GL) of water in 2000-01 (ABS, 2005). Moreover, total water use increased by 9,400 GL/year or 65% between 1983/84 and 1996/97 (NLWRA, 2001). This was mostly due to expansion of irrigated agriculture, while urban centres have shown either low increases or net decreases in water consumption over the same period (Figure 1).
Figure 1: Change in water use in Australia between 1983/84 and 1996/97 (NLWRA 2001)
The agriculture industry had the highest water consumption in 2000-01, accounting for 16,660 GL (or 67%; Figure 2). Households were the next highest water consumer, using 2,181 GL (or 9%). The water supply, sewerage and drainage services industry was also a significant consumer of water, with 1,794 GL (or 7.2%), followed by the electricity and gas supply industry with 1,688 GL (or 6.8%) (ABS, 2005). According to the ABS, most water is consumed in NSW/ACT (39%) and Victoria (30%), followed by Queensland (17%), Western Australia (6.4%), South Australia (5.7%), Tasmania (1.4%) and Northern Territory (0.5%) (ABS, 2005).
Figure 2: The way we use water (ABS 2005)
This recent and rapid expansion of water demand was reported by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE):
"If recent trends continue, water requirements of the irrigation sector could increase by about 66% by 2002/21. On current growth rates, total national water use could be as much as 33,000 GL by 2020/21, which is clearly unsustainable." (ATSE, 1999).
This pressure on water resources is expected to increase with continued economic growth. On the supply side, most climatic models suggest a decline in rainfall over much of the continent. Such reductions in water availability have the potential to magnify the shortages already evident. Declines in water availability will impact on all sectors of the Australian economy, with agriculture being particularly affected.
Increased water use is reflected in allocation nearing, and in some cases exceeding, the defined sustainable limits of the resource in parts of Australia. This was summarised in the national perspective of the level of water resource development compiled as part of the National Land and Water Resources Audit (NLWRA, 2001). This means greater pressure to address inefficiencies in water management, such as the existing practices of independently assessing and managing groundwater and surface water resources.
Relevant Links
Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and EngineeringNational Land and Water Resources Audit
National Water Commission
CSIRO Without Water - The economics of supplying water to 5 million Australians [PDF 465KB]
References
ABS, 2005. Water Account for Australia, ABS Catalogue 4610.0 Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra.
NLWRA 2001, Australian Water Resources Assessment 2000, Surface water and groundwater - availability and quality, National Land and Water Resources Audit, Canberra.