Report on Water

Executive Summary

Water, despite being colorless, tasteless, and odorless, is the only type of liquid that is accepted by the human body – often described as the source of life. However, Australia is facing water shortage which threatens the future usage. This report is aimed to investigate the key cause of increased demand for water and explore some of the researched solutions to the issue of water scarcity. The report is divided into five important parts that includes the introduction, history of water scarcity, solution promoted in Australia, conclusion, and further recommendations all to explain the current situation of Australia in the midst of water scarcity. The method applied is through reviewing the important studies that covers the same aim of the study. There are four recommendations that might add hope to the Australian government in minimizing the impact of water scarcity and avoiding the reservoirs reached their critical limit. In conclusions, all the ideas that included in the paper are briefly summarized with a limit of explaining the Australian regions one-by-one.

1.0 Introduction

Water… the main source of life. Water shortage is an urgent and fundamental issue for everyone. For over the years the need for water changed due to various human activities that mostly urged by the concept of globalization and development. Added to that is the unrelenting use and waste of water done by the consumers. And it said that it is payback time of nature, because there is an increase number of a demand for water and yet has little supply. Not sufficient enough to serve the entire population. However, placing the basic and immediate solution is the main aim of the report in which the Premier of Western Australia, Colin Barnett had gone under his sleeves and must under the series of review and additional recommendations that might help the country surpass the national survival problem.

1.1 History of Water Scarcity

Australia is currently facing a great dilemma in water as demonstrated in its scarcity that traced years ago. The shift on the percentage of supply happened in Australia’s water resources shows comprehensive evidence that water availability diminished between the years of 1993-1966 when the water resource exceeds than the average rate usage. From there, the imbalance of water supply affected the various regions of Australia. Currently, the country is experiencing a kind of phenomenon that exhibits dry conditions (van Dijk, 2009).

2.0 Causes of Increased in Water Demand

Australia addresses the related issues on water resources and its problem due to scarcity. The continuous increase in water demand creates turbulence in the water supply and affects the future plans. It was identified that the allocation and groundwater supplies are disturbed due from the activities of irrigators, urban/domestic, industrial and mining, and agricultural sectors. As part of the overall consequences, the question regarding the assurance of enough water and sustainability issues in the country rises.

2.1 Industrial Growth of Demand

Waters in Australia are controlled by the State and allowed to use of a number of purposes. In industrial purpose, the exploitation of the natural resources is mirrored in their excessive water usage (Chartres and Williams, 2006). The continuous industrial growth threatens the water supply due to the illegal wastes disposal that mostly results on the water pollution. In fact, the dusts that might come from the industry and infrastructures potentially contaminate the water discharge and entirely pollute the water system (Crase, O’Keefe, and Dollery, 2009).

2.2 Agricultural Water Demand

Excessive in water use in terms of water irrigation (which is almost the same as in the industry) is the contributed cause from agricultural on the country’s water shortage (Parliament of Australia, 2005). This has been justified through the range of climate conditions and kind of terrain or landscapes. In addition, the underground water is considered to be hazardous to the human health because of the pesticides and fertilizers casting activities by the tillers of the land. In addition, the future landscape might be the main cause for lowering the quality and triggers additional threat on water pollution. Over the years, the agricultural productivity in dry land and irrigated systems increased for the aim of international competitiveness in farming. The other agricultural water pollution came from the improvements of plant breeding, disease, pest management, and soil and fertility management. The excessive water and water discharge is indeed needed in the productivity of Australian rice production (Chartres and Williams, 2006).

2.3 Consumers’ Demand and Population Growth

Due to the growth of population in certain area, it is anticipated that there is a significant increase in water demand (Sokoloff, 2008). Because of the importance of water in everyday human activities, the people are ineffective in controlling the water usage. Added to that is the national policy for the low water charges that are all in favor of the people. With those implications, the major challenge that the country is facing is through the balancing the water extractions for the appropriate usages of water (Chartres and Williams, 2006).

3.0 Solutions

Solutions are indeed needed to be produced to save the remaining reservoir of natural resources. It should be formulated to avoid the potential drastic results.

3.1 Agreement on Reduction of Water Usage

The government and the industrial leaders agreed to place effective reforms that emphasizes the water prices, allocations and trading, environment and water quality, as well as in education. These are initial actions to minimize the impacts of water scarcity. There should be appropriate concentration on the areas where the water supply is limited. In addition, the investment projects in farm forestry, plantations, and general re-vegetation are designed to ensure to the flows of water for various functions as well as addressing the effects of climate change and reengineering the urban water system are applicable solutions (Crase, O’Keefe, and Dollery, 2009).

3.2 Policies and Regulations

In terms of government regulations, the policies should create changes in industrial, agricultural, and consumer water usages. A conventional approach towards the structural adjustments should be seriously prioritized. Government can easily subsidize the irrigation infrastructure to deal with the major problem (Sokoloff, 2008).

4.0 Further Recommendations

Here the recommendations or other options that are highly possible and it depend on Australia on what kind of method the government is going to adopt.

· Cloud seeding is the most scientific way in inviting rainfall that may reduce the effects of climate change, land-droughts, and threats in water supply.

· Stabilize and quality engineered irrigation design on both agricultural and domestic water needs.

· Emphasizing the evolution of water markets like the property rights and operation for industrial sectors.

· Strong government regulation and policies that promotes water preservation

5.0 Conclusion

The main contributing issues that affect the water scarcity in Australia were identified and those are the industrial sector, agricultural sector, and the society. Apparently, from the investigation of the factors that the three sectors have, there is conflict of interest between the government and the national economy. Basically, without the two first sector, the economy will not survive but because of the growing water scarcity, there should major changes and adjustments as the initial of the government.

References:

Chartres, C., & Williams, J., (2006) “Can Australia Overcome its Water Scarcity Problems?”, Journal of Developments in Sustainable Agriculture, Vol. 1, pp. 17-24, Accessed 27 May 2010, from http://www.wentworthgroup.org/docs/Chartres_&_Williams.pdf

Crase, L.R., O’Keefe, S.M., & Dollery, B.E., (2009) “The Fluctuating Political Appeal of Water Engineering in Australia”, Water Alternatives Vol. 2, No. 3, pp. 441-447.

Parliament of Australia (2005) “Water Supply”, Accessed 27 May 2010, from http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/Committee/ecita_ctte/completed_inquiries/2002-04/water/report/c02.pdf

Sokoloff, E.A., (2008) “The Evolution of Markets for Water”, Journal of International Affairs, Vol. 61, No. 2, p. 297.

van Dijk, A., (2009) The History of Australian Water Scarcity, Water Planning Tools, Accessed 27 May 2010, from http://waterplanning.org.au/related-research/the-history-of-australian-water-scarcity