Journal articles on the topic 'Water-supply – Australia – Management'
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1
Paterson, John. "Water Management and Recreational Values; Some Cases in Victoria, Australia." Water Science and Technology 21, no. 2 (February 1, 1989): 1–12. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.1989.0021.
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The growing recognition of recreational and amenity demands on water systems introduces a multitude of issues, many of them complex, to the established tasks of water quality management and water management generally. Victorian case studies are presented. They (1) illustrate the range and diversity of situations that can arise in managing competition and enhancing compatibility between traditional water supply objectives and recreational demands. (2) Fluctuation of storage levels, essential to storage operations, detract from recreational value. Recreational and tourism demands upon Lake Hume have grown to threaten traditional operating flexibility. (3) Mokoan is another such instance, but with its supply function in a state of flux, Lake Mokoan provides more scope for a shift in the balance. (4) Salinity management has become an issue in the management of lakes and wetlands when water supply interests and environmental/recreation interests respectively have different perspectives on salt disposal. (5) Recreational use of town supply sources has long been a vexed issue, although marked shifts in the attitudues of many supply authorities have occurred in recent years. (6) Eutrophication of lakes and estuaries raises difficult issues of responsibility and scientific uncertainty, and the water management connection may be tenuous but will attract public attention. (7) The water body attributes valued by specialised recreational interests require definition in terms that water managers can deal with using routine techniques of systems analysis and evaluation. (8) The demands of the fish population and anglers introduce a new perspective in river management and perceptions of instream values are changing markedly. (9) Direct costs of recreational services supplied by water authorities are not fully accounted: allocation choices and fiscal incidence will emerge as issues of significance. (10) These case studies raise only a fraction of the total range of matters that will, in the years to come, tax the technology and political skills of governments and management.
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Miller, R., B. Whitehill, and D. Deere. "A national approach to risk assessment for drinking water catchments in Australia." Water Supply 5, no. 2 (September 1, 2005): 123–34. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/ws.2005.0029.
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This paper comments on the strengths and weaknesses of different methodologies for risk assessment, appropriate for utilisation by Australian Water Utilities in risk assessment for drinking water source protection areas. It is intended that a suggested methodology be recommended as a national approach to catchment risk assessment. Catchment risk management is a process for setting priorities for protecting drinking water quality in source water areas. It is structured through a series of steps for identifying water quality hazards, assessing the threat posed, and prioritizing actions to address the threat. Water management organisations around Australia are at various stages of developing programs for catchment risk management. While much conceptual work has been done on the individual components of catchment risk management, work on these components has not previously been combined to form a management tool for source water protection. A key driver for this project has been the requirements of the National Health and Medical Research Council Framework for the Management of Drinking Water Quality (DWQMF) included in the draft 2002 Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG). The Framework outlines a quality management system of steps for the Australian water industry to follow with checks and balances to ensure water quality is protected from catchment to tap. Key steps in the Framework that relate to this project are as follows: Element 2 Assessment of the Drinking Water Supply System• Water Supply System analysis• Review of Water Quality Data• Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment Element 3 Preventive Measures for Drinking Water Quality Management• Preventive Measures and Multiple Barriers• Critical Control Points This paper provides an evaluation of the following risk assessment techniques: Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP); World Health Organisation Water Safety Plans; Australian Standard AS 4360; and The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines – Drinking Water Quality Management Framework. These methods were selected for assessment in this report as they provided coverage of the different approaches being used across Australia by water utilities of varying: scale of water management organisation; types of water supply system management; and land use and activity-based risks in the catchment area of the source. Initially, different risk assessment methodologies were identified and reviewed. Then examples of applications of those methods were assessed, based on several key water utilities across Australia and overseas. Strengths and weaknesses of each approach were identified. In general there seems some general grouping of types of approaches into those that: cover the full catchment-to-tap drinking water system; cover just the catchment area of the source and do not recognise downstream barriers or processes; use water quality data or land use risks as a key driving component; and are based primarily on the hazard whilst others are based on a hazardous event. It is considered that an initial process of screening water quality data is very valuable in determining key water quality issues and guiding the risk assessment, and to the overall understanding of the catchment and water source area, allowing consistency with the intentions behind the ADWG DWQM Framework. As such, it is suggested that the recommended national risk assessment approach has two key introductory steps: initial screening of key issues via water quality data, and land use or activity scenario and event-based HACCP-style risk assessment. In addition, the importance of recognising the roles that uncertainty and bias plays in risk assessments was highlighted. As such it was deemed necessary to develop and integrate uncertainty guidelines for information used in the risk assessment process. A hybrid risk assessment methodology was developed, based on the HACCP approach, but with some key additions and modifications to make it applicable to varying catchment risks, water supply operation needs and environmental management processes.
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Rizak, S., D. Cunliffe, M. Sinclair, R. Vulcano, J. Howard, S. Hrudey, and P. Callan. "Drinking water quality management: a holistic approach." Water Science and Technology 47, no. 9 (May 1, 2003): 31–36. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.2003.0485.
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A growing list of water contaminants has led to some water suppliers relying primarily on compliance monitoring as a mechanism for managing drinking water quality. While such monitoring is a necessary part of drinking water quality management, experiences with waterborne disease threats and outbreaks have shown that compliance monitoring for numerical limits is not, in itself, sufficient to guarantee the safety and quality of drinking water supplies. To address these issues, the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has developed a Framework for Management of Drinking Water Quality (the Framework) for incorporation in the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, the primary reference on drinking water quality in Australia. The Framework was developed specifically for drinking water supplies and provides a comprehensive and preventive risk management approach from catchment to consumer. It includes holistic guidance on a range of issues considered good practice for system management. The Framework addresses four key areas:•Commitment to Drinking Water Quality Management,•System Analysis and System Management,•Supporting Requirements, and•Review. The Framework represents a significantly enhanced approach to the management and regulation of drinking water quality and offers a flexible and proactive means of optimising drinking water quality and protecting public health. Rather than the primary reliance on compliance monitoring, the Framework emphasises prevention, the importance of risk assessment, maintaining the integrity of water supply systems and application of multiple barriers to assure protection of public health. Development of the Framework was undertaken in collaboration with the water industry, regulators and other stakeholders, and will promote a common and unified approach to drinking water quality management throughout Australia. The Framework has attracted international interest.
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Pawsey, Nicholas. "Water Management Accounting and the Wine Supply Chain: Empirical Evidence from Australia." Social and Environmental Accountability Journal 35, no. 3 (September 2, 2015): 195. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0969160x.2015.1093770.
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Christ, Katherine L. "Water management accounting and the wine supply chain: Empirical evidence from Australia." British Accounting Review 46, no. 4 (December 2014): 379–96. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bar.2014.10.003.
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Brown, R. R., and M. A. Farrelly. "Challenges ahead: social and institutional factors influencing sustainable urban stormwater management in Australia." Water Science and Technology 59, no. 4 (February 1, 2009): 653–60. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.2009.022.
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In a time of climate uncertainty and drought in Australia, improved urban stormwater quality management practices are required not only for protecting waterway health, but also as a fit-for-purpose supply source. To conceive of urban stormwater as an environmental threat as well as a water supply source requires a substantial shift in our traditional linear supply and wastewater structures towards more hybrid and complex infrastructure systems. To understand what drives and limits treatment technology adoption for stormwater management, over 800 urban water professionals in three Australian capital cities completed an online questionnaire survey in November 2006. Using the conceptual framework of receptivity assessment, the results revealed the professional community to be highly associated with the importance of improving stormwater quality for receiving waterway health, yet they do not consider that politicians share this perspective by placing a substantially lower level of importance on stormwater quality management. Significant acquisition barriers within each city, including institutional arrangements, costs, responsibilities, and regulations and approvals processes were all identified as constraining more sustainable practices. Capacity building programs, fostering greater socio-political capital and developing key demonstration projects with training events are recommended as useful policy interventions for addressing current institutional impediments.
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Souter, W. D., and J. D. Flanders. "Lake Tinaroo (Australia) – Towards a Management Plan." Water Science and Technology 21, no. 2 (February 1, 1989): 99–104. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.1989.0034.
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Tinaroo Falls Dam provides a water supply for irrigated agricultural production, primarily tobacco, rice, tree and horticultural crops, near Mareeba in Far Northern Queensland. The increasing popularity of Lake Tinaroo as a recreation and tourist venue is providing impetus for a management plan to be prepared for the lake. Urban and agricultural use of the catchment has caused a change in the trophic state of the lake. The competing uses and emerging issues in relation to a sustainable, healthy lake are discussed. The QWRC is desirous of establishing a management plan for the catchment. Progress in implementing such a plan is discussed.
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Vaze, J., Y. Q. Zhang, and L. Zhang. "Water dynamics under changing land cover." Proceedings of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences 371 (June 12, 2015): 215–21. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/piahs-371-215-2015.
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Abstract. Most of the forested headwater catchments are an important source of water supply in many parts of the world. A prime example is southeast Australia where forests supply major river systems and towns and cities with water. It is critical for an informed and adaptive water resource management to understand changes in streamflow caused by vegetation changes in these headwater forest catchments. Natural disturbances such as bushfires and anthropogenic activities like forestation, deforestation, or logging alter vegetation, evapotranspiration and soil water status, and may affect water supplies. Although catchment water yield is mainly controlled by climatic conditions, but it is also strongly influenced by land cover changes because of natural disturbances and anthropogenic activities. It is necessary to accurately estimate streamflow in water supply catchments subjected to dramatic land surface changes. This paper summarises the methods commonly used to investigate the impacts of land cover change on water resources, and provides some examples of impacts of afforestation/deforestation and bushfire on water resources in two southeast Australian catchments.
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White, S. B., and S. A. Fane. "Designing cost effective water demand management programs in Australia." Water Science and Technology 46, no. 6-7 (September 1, 2002): 225–32. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.2002.0683.
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This paper describes recent experience with integrated resource planning (IRP) and the application of least cost planning (LCP) for the evaluation of demand management strategies in urban water. Two Australian case studies, Sydney and Northern New South Wales (NSW) are used in illustration. LCP can determine the most cost effective means of providing water services or alternatively the cheapest forms of water conservation. LCP contrasts to a traditional approach of evaluation which looks only at means of increasing supply. Detailed investigation of water usage, known as end-use analysis, is required for LCP. End-use analysis allows both rigorous demand forecasting, and the development and evaluation of conservation strategies. Strategies include education campaigns, increasing water use efficiency and promoting wastewater reuse or rainwater tanks. The optimal mix of conservation strategies and conventional capacity expansion is identified based on levelised unit cost. IRP uses LCP in the iterative process, evaluating and assessing options, investing in selected options, measuring the results, and then re-evaluating options. Key to this process is the design of cost effective demand management programs. IRP however includes a range of parameters beyond least economic cost in the planning process and program designs, including uncertainty, benefit partitioning and implementation considerations.
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Anderson, J. "The environmental benefits of water recycling and reuse." Water Supply 3, no. 4 (August 1, 2003): 1–10. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/ws.2003.0041.
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The world's supply of fresh water is finite and is threatened by pollution. Rising demands for water to supply agriculture, industry and cities are leading to competition over the allocation of limited fresh water resources. This paper examines how water reuse increases the available supply of water and enables human needs to be met with less fresh water. The paper is illustrated with water reuse case studies in agriculture, urban areas, industry and water resource supplementation in Australia and other countries. The links between water reuse and sustainable water management are examined. Water conservation and water reuse produce substantial environmental benefits, arising from reductions in water diversions, and reductions in the impacts of wastewater discharges on environmental water quality. Some examples are presented demonstrating the environmental benefits in quantitative terms. The paper also describes the economic and environmental benefits identified in a number of recent integrated water cycle planning studies in Australia.
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Sharp, I. H., and M. A. Schell. "Study of Recreational Use of Sydney Water Board and Fish River Water Supply Storages (Australia)." Water Science and Technology 21, no. 2 (February 1, 1989): 119–22. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.1989.0037.
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Existing and potential recreational uses in a number of very different water supply catchments managed by two major N.S.W. authorities were investigated. Community attitudes to recreational use of both land based and water based activities were analysed together with reactions to increased charges to cover costs of ensuring safe water quality. Threats to water quality were studied and additional management and water quality control measures formulated.
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Lam, K. L., P. A. Lant, and S. J. Kenway. "Energy implications of the millennium drought on urban water cycles in Southeast Australian cities." Water Supply 18, no. 1 (June 6, 2017): 214–21. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/ws.2017.110.
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Abstract During the Millennium Drought in Australia, a wide range of supply-side and demand-side water management strategies were adopted in major southeast Australian cities. This study undertakes a time-series quantification (2001–2014) and comparative analysis of the energy use of the urban water supply systems and sewage systems in Melbourne and Sydney before, during and after the drought, and evaluates the energy implications of the drought and the implemented strategies. In addition, the energy implications of residential water use in Melbourne are estimated. The research highlights that large-scale adoption of water conservation strategies can have different impacts on energy use in different parts of the urban water cycle. In Melbourne, the per capita water-related energy use reduction in households related to showering and clothes-washing alone (46% reduction, 580 kWhth/p/yr) was far more substantial than that in the water supply system (32% reduction, 18 kWhth/p/yr). This historical case also demonstrates the importance of balancing supply- and demand-side strategies in managing long-term water security and related energy use. The significant energy saving in water supply systems and households from water conservation can offset the additional energy use from operating energy-intensive supply options such as inter-basin water transfers and seawater desalination during dry years.
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Wight, W. V. "Baroon Pocket Dam (Australia) Recreation Strategy: An Approach to a Plan." Water Science and Technology 21, no. 2 (February 1, 1989): 105–10. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.1989.0035.
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Baroon Pocket Dam is a water supply reservoir being constructed by the Landsborough Maroochy Water Supply Board in the hinterland of the Sunshine Coast of Queensland. Sinclair Knight and Partners was engaged to assess recreational opportunities and to prepare a management plan giving due regard to:the existing occupation of the catchmentthe picturesque nature of the localitythe current popularity of the locality for tourists and day trip visitors, andthe rare opportunity for “white water” recreation downstream. Assessment of opportunities and constraints included adaptation of “Outdoor Recreational Opportunity Spectrum” techniques. As the stored water will require extensive treatment in any case, the nature and intensity of recreation was found to be constrained by factors other than water quality. Opinion gathered through public submissions and discussions with user groups was overwhelmingly opposed to motorised activity. Tranquility and maintenance of the visual setting were valued highly. The retention of land in private ownership in close proximity to the ponded area imposed further constraints on recreation management.
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Norton, R. M. "Nitrogen management to optimise canola production in Australia." Crop and Pasture Science 67, no. 4 (2016): 419. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/cp15297.
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The expansion of canola production in Australia coincided with an increase in cropping intensity and a reduction in pastures and tillage. These changes mean that nitrogen (N) is often recognised as the most limiting nutrient in canola production, and is the largest single input cost for many growers. Canola responds to added N by producing larger plants that results in a longer leaf area duration, building a larger photosynthetic canopy for seed filling. Although the crop can compensate for poor early growth, a larger canopy is able to compete more effectively against weeds and helps reserve water for crop transpiration rather than soil evaporation. Nitrogen uptake is most rapid during stem elongation, and the N acquired can be remobilised to developing pods and then to seeds. Unlike wheat, N uptake can continue until drought or high temperatures prevent further assimilate supply to the reproductive apex. Data from Australian experiments that measured N uptake over the whole growth period showed that each tonne of seed required ~80 kg N to be taken up, and this forms the basis of a budgeting approach for determining N supply. Typically, added N reduces seed oil concentration at a rate of between –0.03 and –0.13%/kg N. Despite this decline due to added N, oil yield usually increases and the overall value of the crop also increases. Nitrogen has little impact on oil quality or seed glucosinate concentration. The efficiency and effectiveness of N management depends first on selecting a rate appropriate to the water-limited yield potential. Most growers estimate the N rate required using an N budget based on supplying 80 kg N/t less indigenous N supply. The budgeted N can be split over two, three or even more applications with little loss in agronomic efficiency. Splitting application enables growers to make decisions about N when there is more certainty about seasonal conditions. Urea is the most common N source used, and unless there are particular loss processes that are likely to occur, it is cheap and effective. Suggested areas for future N research on canola are to develop tools that can assess in-crop N status, an evaluation of late season N product rate and timing particularly on seed oil concentration, N management for grazed canola, and the development of guidelines to identify, and then address, particular N loss pathways using enhanced efficiency fertilisers.
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Kenway, S. J., G. M. Turner, S. Cook, and T. Baynes. "Water and energy futures for Melbourne: implications of land use, water use, and water supply strategy." Journal of Water and Climate Change 5, no. 2 (December 21, 2013): 163–75. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wcc.2013.188.
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This paper quantifies the effect of three policy levels on the water and energy futures of Melbourne, Australia. During a time of severe water shortages attributed to climate change, water strategies lacked consideration of energy consequences. Modeling, guided by urban metabolism theory, demonstrated that a compact urban form, reduced water consumption by 90 GL/a, compared with a sprawling city, and had greater water conservation impact than simulated demand management measures. Household water conservation, coupled with increased use of solar hot water systems, reduced grid energy use by some 30 PJ/a. Desalination, tripled water supply energy demand, growing to a total of 4.5 PJ/a, by 2045. While the increase is less than 1% of total Melbourne urban energy use, it contributes to a substantial increase in the energy bill for urban water provision. Importantly, the energy impact could be offset through demand management measures. Recommendations for the combined management of water and energy include improving energy characterization of the urban water cycle; impact-evaluation of regional plans; using total urban water and energy balances in analysis to provide context; and developing reporting mechanisms and indicators to help improve baseline data across the water and energy systems.
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Okun, D. A. "Water reuse introduces the need to integrate both water supply and wastewater management at local and regulatory levels." Water Science and Technology 46, no. 6-7 (September 1, 2002): 273–80. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.2002.0689.
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Growing population and increasing urbanization is resulting in shortages of water supply for communities even in water-rich areas of the world. An approach to addressing this problem has been the introduction of wastewater reclamation and reuse for nonpotable purposes through dual distribution systems in municipalities in the United States on a significant scale in the 1970s and more recently in Japan and Australia. Many hundreds of communities, some very small and others very large, have adopted dual systems to add to their water resources and to reduce the burden of water pollution. Two issues deserve attention. The first is that the provision of water supply and its regulation by government is generally entirely separated from the provision of sewerage and wastewater treatment, so that the management of a reclaimed water service requires new arrangements both on the part of communities and of the government agencies that are concerned with the oversight of water supply and pollution control. The second issue is that the availability of new technology for treating waters drawn from polluted sources has led to proposals for purposefully using reclaimed water for potable purposes. The integration of water supply and wastewater disposal functions in professional organizations, such as IWA, is a useful step towards integrating water management in practice.
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Beal, Cara, Bernard Dorante, Patrick Pearson, Safaa Aldirawi, and Noora Abdallah. "Working with Community and Council: The Kirirri Story." Water e-Journal 5, no. 4 (2020): 1–15. http://dx.doi.org/10.21139/wej.2020.023.
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Ensuring safe, accessible and acceptable drinking water in remote communities in Australia requires culturally and socially appropriate, technically feasible and economically viable approaches. Arguably, technical and economic factors have been the main focus for remote communities in the water sector, as engineers historically drove the design, planning and construction phases of water supply management options. More recently, increasing focus has been on understanding and integrating local people and place into water supply and demand management. This paper focusses on community-based water demand management in the inner Torres Straits community of Kirirri. The aims and methods are outlined, along with a discussion of the findings which describe the community-preferred demand management tools that were piloted in 25 households between 2018-2019.
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Zhang, Kun-Cheng, and Shu-Qing Yang. "Downstream Water Management Strategy in Murray–Darling Basin to Improve Adelaide’s Water Quality and Agricultural Output — Feasibility Analysis of a Dual-Purpose Coastal Reservoir." International Journal of Ocean and Coastal Engineering 02, no. 03n04 (September 2019): 1940004. http://dx.doi.org/10.1142/s2529807019400049.
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Australia is the driest country in the world, and the lower Murray–Darling Basin and Adelaide have experienced extreme water scarcity crisis, especially during the Millennium Drought (2000–2010). Many counter measures have been proposed or implemented like desalination plants and water buyback, etc., some progress has been made, but far away from a complete solution. Different from existing measures, this research aims at using coastal reservoir technology to shift from upstream water development to downstream development, in order to solve a series of water supply and ecological environment problems by redesigning a coastal reservoir in the downstream area. It is suggested that high-quality water is stored in a “coastal reservoir” inside the Alexandrina Lake for Adelaide’s water supply. The lake water outside the “coastal reservoir” is used for agricultural development. A preliminary feasibility study was conducted in terms of water quantity and water quality, river’s environmental flow and agricultural output. The results show that if a small size (550–630[Formula: see text]GL) coastal reservoir was created inside the Lake Alexandrina in the mouth of Murray River, the Adelaide’s water supply could be secured and its water quality be improved even during droughts like the Millennium Drought. Besides, if the agricultural development is concentrated around the lake, its water demand can be fully met from the lake, rather than the river, thus the agricultural development has little negative impacts on the river’s ecosystem, it is a win-win solution for agricultural development and river ecosystem. It is suggested that Australian government should provide stimulus package for upstream farmers to relocate to areas around the lake.
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Grey-Gardner, Robyn. "Implementing risk management for water supplies: a catalyst and incentive for change." Rangeland Journal 30, no. 1 (2008): 149. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/rj07046.
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Water management in small Aboriginal settlements in remote Australia is typified by technology-driven approaches where knowledge, decision-making and responsibility reside with organisations and agencies outside the settlement. This conventional approach has been a disincentive to active involvement by residents in managing the hazards and risks of their own water supply, despite the apparent presence of knowledge and skills at the settlement level. This paper outlines lessons from the Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre’s Remote Community Water Management Project. The aim of the 2-year project was to identify a replicable model and process for sustainable small scale water supply management in remote Aboriginal settlements. The approach was a practical departure from viewing water quality in isolation from the other water supply issues such as water quantity, affordability, additional resources and aspirations. The risk management model that was developed and utilised is presented and the significant factors that enabled a holistic approach to water supply management are discussed. The dynamic combination of participatory processes and an iterative approach enabled effective project implementation, and created an environment of continual improvement. Critical elements of the project implementation are described, in particular, the sequencing of activities and the identification of incentives and drivers for increasing self reliance. The social capital within the case study settlements is explored as a critical attribute for a sustainable management program or change process. The model developed during the project provides a structure for expanding the approach to, for example, a regional water management strategy. The opportunities for expansion are further enhanced by the practices of developing appropriate and transferable tools. The integration of livelihood aspirations within institutions of policy and water risk management practice is endorsed for effective and sustainable local water management.
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Hurlimann, Anna C. "Water supply in regional Victoria Australia: A review of the water cartage industry and willingness to pay for recycled water." Resources, Conservation and Recycling 53, no. 5 (March 2009): 262–68. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2008.12.005.
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Sharma, Ashok, and Ted Gardner. "Comprehensive Assessment Methodology for Urban Residential Rainwater Tank Implementation." Water 12, no. 2 (January 21, 2020): 315. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w12020315.
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Rainwater tanks are increasingly being implemented as part of the integrated urban water management paradigm where all sources of water, including potable, stormwater and recycled, are considered eligible to contribute to the urban water supply. Over the last decade or so, there has been a rapid uptake of rainwater tank systems in urban areas, especially in Australian cities, encouraged through financial incentives, but more importantly, from change in residential building codes effectively mandating the installation of rainwater tanks. Homes with rainwater tanks in Australian cities have increased from 15% to 28% over six years to 2013. These building codes specify certain rainwater tank specifications to achieve a stated rainwater use, and hence potable water savings. These specifications include minimum rainwater tank size, minimum connected roof area, plumbing for internal supply for toilets and washing machines, and external supply for garden watering. These expected potable water savings from households are often factored into regional strategic water planning objectives. Hence if rainwater tanks do not deliver the expected saving due to sub-standard installation and/or poor maintenance, it will have an adverse impact on the regional water plan in the longer term. In this paper, a methodology to assess the effectiveness of a government rainwater tank policy in achieving predicted potable water savings is described and illustrated with a case study from South East Queensland, Australia. It is anticipated that water professionals across the globe should be able to use the same methodology to assess the effectiveness of similar rainwater policies, or indeed any other distributed water saving policy, in their local planning communities.
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Pinto, Francisco Silva, Alain Michel Tchadie, Susana Neto, and Shahbaz Khan. "Contributing to water security through water tariffs: some guidelines for implementation mechanisms." Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development 8, no. 4 (August 23, 2018): 730–39. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/washdev.2018.015.
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Abstract The reform of water pricing practices and tariff mechanisms plays an important role in improving water supply services. However, setting tariff policies is a process that is rife with controversy. The current urban development rhythm and consequent challenges, in several developing cities, requires an urgent review and the establishment of an increasingly more ‘integrated’ management system with a suitable water tariff policy to promote water security. Many lessons can be learned from the successes and failures of water pricing policies in other countries and world regions, taking into account the context, status and development of the water supply sector. In this paper, several case studies are assessed throughout different countries or regions (South Africa, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, and Europe) to provide key information able to support successful policy ‘transfer routes’. Based on those lessons, key policy recommendations are summarized to pave the way towards water security, particularly in rapidly growing urban centres that suffer already from water stress.
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Christ, Katherine Leanne, Roger Burritt, and Mohsen Varsei. "Towards environmental management accounting for trade-offs." Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal 7, no. 3 (September 5, 2016): 428–48. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/sampj-12-2015-0112.
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Purpose Environmental Management Accounting (EMA) information has become synonymous with win-win decision settings, but this paper aims to consider how EMA support can be extended to company managers who face the dynamics of win-wins and trade-offs. Design/methodology/approach Based on extant literature, the paper suggests an important extension of the use of EMA in support of management decision-making. The need for extended consideration and use of EMA to help overcome trade-offs is illustrated using the case of a wine bottling plant location decision by an Australian company in a global supply chain transporting wine from Australia to North America and Europe. Findings Results confirm the need to add to the broader use of EMA to assist managers attempting to solve real world trade-off problems between economic performance, carbon equivalent emissions reduction and water risk reduction. Research limitations/implications Generalisation of the single wine company case illustration to other companies and similar industry settings remains to be investigated. Practical implications Trade-offs are considered between economic benefit and two environmental performance matters of concern to the company, carbon equivalent emissions reduction and water risk reduction. Originality/value The paper introduces the notion of extending the use of EMA as a pragmatic way for managers to assess trade-off situations with environmental alternatives where no optimal solution is available. Value is added through the real case study of an Australian wine company.
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Pearson, Leonie J., and Kerry Collins. "Does social-ecological context influence state-based water management decisions? Case study from Queensland, Australia (1980–2006)." Water Policy 12, no. 2 (November 9, 2009): 186–202. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wp.2009.055.
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The past several decades have seen significant changes in how governments approach water management decisions. This paper reviews 12 major water management decisions in Queensland, Australia, during 1980–2006. The resilience paradigm was used to place the water management decisions in a social-ecological systems context rather than the traditional water resource context. The social-ecological context was interrogated through three parameters: scientific knowledge, environment and institutions for each of the decisions. Results indicate: (a) a trend for increased adoption of formalised integrative (social, economic and environmental factors) evaluation methods (such as benefit cost analysis and environmental impact assessment) in the scientific knowledge parameter of social-ecological context; (b) the environmental parameter (e.g. drought) influenced the timing of water decisions; and (c) a possible threshold was found within the institutional context, i.e. change of State leadership, which determined the regime or type of water decision under consideration e.g. supply or demand dominated management. These findings provide insight to policy makers and scientists on the importance of social-ecological context in the assessment of State water decisions.
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Edwards, Louise, and Helen Crabb. "Water quality and management in the Australian pig industry." Animal Production Science 61, no. 7 (2021): 637. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/an20484.
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Context Water is the first nutrient and an essential component of all agricultural production systems. Despite its importance there has been limited research on water, and in particular, the impact of its availability, management and quality on production systems. Aims This research sought to describe the management and quality of water used within the Australian pig industry. Specifically, the water sources utilised, how water was managed and to evaluate water quality at both the source and the point of delivery to the pig. Methods Fifty-seven commercial piggeries across Australia participated in this study by completing a written survey on water management. In addition, survey participants undertook physical farm parameter measurements including collecting water samples. Each water sample was tested for standard quality parameters including pH, hardness, heavy metals and microbiological status. Key results Responses were received from 57 farms, estimated to represent at least 22% of ‘large’ pig herds. Bore water was the most common water source being utilised within the farms surveyed. Management practices and infrastructure delivering water from the source to the point of consumption were found to differ across the farms surveyed. Furthermore, water was regularly used as a delivery mechanism for soluble additives such as antibiotics. The quality of water at the source and point of consumption was found to be highly variable with many parameters, particularly pH, hardness, salinity, iron, manganese and microbiological levels, exceeding the acceptable standard. Conclusions In general, water quality did not appear to be routinely monitored or managed. As a result, farm managers had poor visibility of the potential negative impacts that inferior water quality or management may be having on pig production and in turn the economics of their business. Indeed, inferior water quality may impact the delivery of antibiotics and in turn undermine the industry’s antimicrobial stewardship efforts. Implications The study findings suggest that water quality represents a significant challenge to the Australian pig industry. Access to drinking water of an acceptable quality is essential for optimal pig performance, health and welfare but also to ensure farm to fork supply chain integrity, traceability and food safety.
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Atazadeh, Ehsan, Andrew Barton, and Jafar Razeghi. "Importance of environmental flows in the Wimmera catchment, Southeast Australia." Limnological Review 20, no. 4 (December 1, 2020): 185–98. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/limre-2020-0018.
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Abstract In this paper the environment, climate, vegetation, indigenous and European settlement history, stream flow patterns, water quality and water resources development in western Victoria, Australia are studied. The last part of the paper focuses on the MacKenzie River, a tributary of the Wimmera River located on the northern slopes of the Grampians Ranges in western Victoria, Australia. Water release along the MacKenzie River was regulated to improve water quality, stream condition and river health especially in the downstream reaches. The upstream section tends to receive water most days of the year due to releases to secure the requirements of water supply for the city of Horsham and its recreational and conservation values, which is diverted into Mt Zero Channel. Below this the middle and downstream sections receive a more intermittent supply. Annually, a total of 10,000 dam3 of water is released from Wartook Reservoir into the MacKenzie River. Of this volume, only about 4,000 dam3 was released explicitly for environmental purposes. The remaining 6,000 dam3 was released to meet consumptive demands and to transfer water to downstream reservoirs. The empirical data and models showed the lower reaches of the river to be in poor condition under low flows, but this condition improved under flows of 35 dam3 per day, as indicated. The results are presented to tailor discharge and duration of the river flows by amalgamation of consumptive and environmental flows to improve the condition of the stream, thereby supplementing the flows dedicated to environmental outcomes. Ultimately the findings can be used by management to configure consumptive flows that would enhance the ecological condition of the MacKenzie River.
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Schneider, P., A. Davison, A. Langdon, G. Freeman, C. Essery, R. Beatty, and P. Toop. "Integrated water cycle planning for towns in New South Wales, Australia." Water Science and Technology 47, no. 7-8 (April 1, 2003): 87–94. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.2003.0675.
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Integration means different things to different people and as a consequence appears to only partially deliver on promised outcomes. For effective integrated water cycle management these outcomes should include improved water use efficiency, less waste, environmental sustainability, and provide secure and reliable supply to meet social and economic needs. The objective of integration is the management and combination of all these outcomes as part of a whole, so as to provide better outcomes than would be expected by managing the parts independently. Integration is also a consequence of the Water Reforms embarked on by the NSW State Government in 1995. The key goals of the reforms are clean and healthy rivers and groundwaters, and the establishment of more secure water entitlements for users. They are also essential for meeting the Council of Australian Government (COAG) water management strategies. The policies and guidelines that formed the NSW Water Reforms were the basis of the Water Management Act 2000 (NSW) (WMA) which is the legislative framework for water management in NSW. The NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation has developed an approach to integrated water cycle management for rural centres in NSW based on a catchment and policy context. This approach includes consideration of catchment wide needs and issues, environmental sustainability, government policy and community objectives in the development of an integrated water cycle plan. The approach provides for a transparent assessment of priorities and how to deal with them, and while specific to urban centres, could easily be expanded for use in the management of the whole of the catchment water cycle. Integration of the water cycle is expected to offer benefits to the local environment, community and economy. For instance, any unused proportion of an urban centre's water entitlement, or an offset against this entitlement created through returned flows (such as via good quality sewage effluent discharge to a river), can provide a surplus which is available to be traded on an annual basis. Further, improved demand management within an urban centre can be expected to result in a reduction in abstraction against the licence entitlement. This may result in the increased availability of in-stream water for environmental or other purposes and is expected to increase the economic value of returned water. Improved water use efficiencies are also expected to result in reduced capital works (and their associated costs) as the efficiency of service delivery and resource use improves. In this paper an example of the application of this process is provided and the outcomes discussed.
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Bereskie, Ty, Ianis Delpla, Manuel J. Rodriguez, and Rehan Sadiq. "Drinking-water management in Canadian provinces and territories: a review and comparison of management approaches for ensuring safe drinking water." Water Policy 20, no. 3 (January 10, 2018): 565–96. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wp.2018.040.
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Abstract Drinking-water management systems (DWMSs) represent the primary means for preventative management of a drinking-water supply and are defined as a system of policies, procedures and administrative/behavioral controls designed to ensure safe drinking water from source to tap. With influence and inspiration ranging from safe food handling to industrial quality management, DWMSs can take, and have taken, many different forms throughout the world. This variability is especially true in Canada, a country with a decentralized governance structure, where provincial and territorial governments are mostly autonomous in regard to drinking-water governance and management. While this has resulted in comprehensive DWMSs in provinces such as Ontario, less-proactive provinces and territories have fallen behind and may be exposing consumers to under-protected and vulnerable drinking-water supplies. This paper includes a review and comparison of the existing Canadian national, provincial and territorial approaches to drinking-water management, the World Health Organization Water Safety Plan Recommendations, national DWMSs from Australia and New Zealand, and also includes widely applied, generic quality management systems. This information is then used to gauge the comprehensiveness of DWMSs in Canada and highlight potential management gaps and policy recommendations for the development of new, or improving existing, DWMSs.
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Cooper, D., G. Olsen, and J. Bartle. "Capture of agricultural surplus water determines the productivity and scale of new low-rainfall woody crop industries." Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 45, no. 11 (2005): 1369. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ea04152.
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This paper presents a conceptual model for estimating the maximum scale of biomass processing industry that may be supported by woody crops grown in the medium and low rainfall agricultural regions of southern Australia. The model integrates paddock scale economics, water capture by woody crops, conversion of water to woody biomass, and estimation of suitable area. It enables estimates to be made of the maximum scale of implementation of commercial woody crops in various climatic regions, and the maximum amount of woody biomass that could be produced commercially within an economic transport distance of a processing facility. To demonstrate the utility of the model, potential biomass supply is estimated for 2 Western Australian wheatbelt towns, Merredin and Narrogin. These estimates are compared with the feedstock requirements of a range of different processing industries. This paper demonstrates that the rate of converting water to biomass and water capture biomass price are key determinants of the potential scale of biomass crops and processing industries in the southern Australian wheat and wool belts and hence the potential contribution of woody crops to dryland salinity management.
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Froscio, Suzanne M., Natalie Bolton, Renay Cooke, Michelle Wittholz, and David Cunliffe. "The South Australian Safe Drinking Water Act: summary of the first year of operation." Journal of Water and Health 14, no. 3 (January 4, 2016): 460–70. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wh.2016.218.
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The Safe Drinking Water Act 2011 was introduced in South Australia to provide clear direction to drinking water providers on how to achieve water safety. The Act requires drinking water providers to register with SA Health and develop a risk management plan (RMP) for their water supply that includes operational and verification monitoring plans and an incident notification and communication protocol. During the first year of operation, 212 drinking water providers registered under the Act, including one major water utility and a range of small to medium sized providers in regional and remote areas of the State. Information was captured on water source(s) used and water treatment. Rainwater was the most frequently reported drinking water source (66%), followed by bore water (13%), on-supply or carting of mains water (13%), mixed source (rainwater with bore water backup) (6%) and surface water (3%). The majority of providers (91%) treated the water supply, 87% used disinfection. During the first year of operation, 16 water quality incidents were formally reported to SA Health. These included both microbial and chemical incidents. Case studies presented highlight how the RMPs are assisting drinking water providers to identify incidents of potential health concern and implement corrective actions.
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Post, D. A., and P. A. Baker. "Determining the impacts of coal seam gas extraction on water resources and water-dependent assets." APPEA Journal 57, no. 2 (2017): 519. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/aj16194.
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As recently as two years ago, there were numerous proposals to develop coal seam gas projects across eastern Australia. Today the picture is very different. While significant coal seam gas development has occurred in the Surat Basin, Metgasco has surrendered their licences and AGL have indicated that they will not proceed in Gloucester. The only coal seam gas development that is still proceeding in NSW is Santos’s proposal in the Liverpool Plains (Namoi). However, recent developments in Australian Government policy to increase gas supply on the eastern seaboard means that the results of these assessments will inform future decisions. Research carried out as part of the Bioregional Assessment Programme (BAP) has shown some surprising results in the Richmond River (Clarence-Moreton bioregion) regarding the potential impacts of coal seam gas development on the water resources and water-dependent assets of that region. This study will show how we developed a groundwater and surface water cumulative impact model in the Clarence-Moreton bioregion, and present the key findings from that modelling. Similar cumulative impact assessments are currently underway in the Maranoa-Balonne-Condamine, Gloucester, Hunter, Galilee, and Namoi regions and we expect these to be published by late 2017. As part of a core tenet of transparency in the BAP, the data collected and models developed as part of these assessments will be freely available for Industry proponents, State regulators and other interested parties to access and utilise. The Surat cumulative management area in south-eastern Queensland has provided a structure for developing coal seam gas resources while protecting water resources via a cumulative approach to management. We propose that the models we have developed would provide the basis of a similar structure to assess and manage cumulative impacts in regions across Australia that may see coal seam gas or other forms of unconventional gas development.
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Graymore, Michelle, Anne Wallis, and Kevin O'Toole. "Understanding drivers and barriers: the key to water use behaviour change." Water Supply 10, no. 5 (December 1, 2010): 679–88. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/ws.2010.125.
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In southwest Victoria, like many other regions in Australia, drought, climate change and population growth have exposed gaps in water supply. To develop effective demand management strategies for rural and regional areas, this paper investigates the drivers and barriers to water saving in southwest Victoria. Although the majority of people felt water saving was important, the drivers for water saving differed between different groups. Residential users were saving water for altruistic reasons, while for farmers the drivers were farm viability and productivity. Although the barriers differed between property types, common barriers included lack of understanding of the impact their water use has on supplies, lack of knowledge, the pricing system and distrust of the water authority. The findings provide information for effective demand management strategies for the region.
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Hauber-Davidson, Guenter. "An integrated approach to water conservation for large users." Water Supply 8, no. 6 (December 1, 2008): 625–32. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/ws.2008.110.
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Water conservation programs targeted at large users will play an integral role securing water supplies for cities in years to come. A hierarchical approach to water conservation—reducing consumption as a priority, then considering internal re-use of water and replacement of potable water with alternative sources—should be the key principle in sustainable water management. The application of this approach relies on a sound understanding of water consumption at a site: where water is used, why, when and how. This entails smart- and sub-metering of the water supply and detailed analysis of site activities to produce a site water balance. The hierarchical approach can then be applied, and conservation options can be costed to assess financial viability. ‘Packaging’ measures with different payback times together should be considered, along with funding support available. Based on implemented projects in Australia, an estimated 30% of potable water consumption within the commercial and industrial sectors could be saved at attractive payback periods. By adopting this integrated water conservation and management approach the same outcomes can be achieved with less potable water consumption. Appropriate source substitution is a pillar of sustainable water supply, providing water at less environmental, social and financial cost than the alternatives.
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Knapton, Anthony, Declan Page, Joanne Vanderzalm, Dennis Gonzalez, Karen Barry, Andrew Taylor, Nerida Horner, Chris Chilcott, and Cuan Petheram. "Managed Aquifer Recharge as a Strategic Storage and Urban Water Management Tool in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia." Water 11, no. 9 (September 9, 2019): 1869. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w11091869.
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Population growth and increased irrigation demand have caused a decline in groundwater levels that limit water supply in the Darwin rural area. Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) is a practical solution that can be adopted to augment stressed groundwater systems and subsequently increase the security of water supply. Aquifer storage capacity is considered to be the primary constraint to MAR where unconfined dolostone aquifers rapidly recharge during the tropical, wet season and drain again in the dry season. As a result, there is a general understanding that aquifers of this nature recharge to full capacity each wet season. However, the aquifer storage capacity and the potential for niche opportunities for MAR to alleviate declining groundwater levels has not previously been examined. This paper uses the Darwin rural area’s Proterozoic Koolpinyah Dolostone aquifer and the existing Koolpinyah Groundwater System to evaluate the prospects of MAR using both infiltration and injection techniques. Direct injection wells in an aquifer storage transfer and recovery (ASTR) scheme were favoured in this area, as injection wells occupy a smaller surface footprint than infiltration basins. This assessment suggested MAR during the early to mid-dry season could alleviate the impact of the dry season decline in groundwater levels in the Darwin rural area. The use of a larger aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) system (5,000,000 m3/year) was also assessed as a potentially viable technical solution in the northern part of the aquifer where it is understood to be confined. The ASR scheme could potentially be scaleable to augment the urban water system and provide strategic long-term storage. Consideration must also be given not only to the strategic positioning of the ASR water bank, but also to the hydrogeology of the aquifers in which the systems would be developed. Not all locations or aquifer systems can successfully support a strategic storage ASR system. Scheme-scale feasibility assessment of an ASR water bank is required. The study reported here is an early phase of a series of investigations that would typically be required to demonstrate the viability of any proposal to apply MAR to increase the reliability of conjunctive groundwater and surface water supplies in stressed water resources systems. It focusses on assessing suitable storage areas in a lateritic aquifer.
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Zhou, Yi, Christopher J. Lambrides, Ryan Kearns, Changrong Ye, and Shu Fukai. "Water use, water use efficiency and drought resistance among warm-season turfgrasses in shallow soil profiles." Functional Plant Biology 39, no. 2 (2012): 116. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/fp11244.
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As the available water supply for urban turfgrass management is becoming limited in Australia, it will be crucial to identify drought-resistant turfgrass species and water-saving management strategies. Eight (pre-)commercial turfgrasses grown in Australia, two each of four species including the bermudagrasses (Cynodon dactylon L.), the Queensland blue couches (Digitaria didactyla Willd), the seashore paspalums (Paspalum vaginatum Swartz.) and St Augustinegrasses (Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt.) Kuntze) were evaluated in two lysimeter experiments. Shallow lysimeters (28 and 40 cm) were used to represent shallow soil profiles typical of urban environments. We measured gravimetric water use for the eight cultivars and calculated water use efficiency (WUE, clipping yield to water use ratio) and WUEr (ratio of WUE under drought to that under irrigated conditions). WUEr measured in both experiments correlated strongly with survival period and this relationship was not affected by soil type or cutting height. Using survival period as the criterion for drought resistance, the best were the bermudagrasses and the worst were the seashore paspalums and Queensland blue couches. The bermudagrass genotypes had the lowest water use, highest WUE and WUEr and the Queensland blue couches and seashore paspalums had the greatest water use, lowest WUE and WUEr. The possible mechanisms of drought resistance included lower water use and lower stomatal conductance as indicated by higher canopy temperature in the early stage of water deficit.
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van der Sterren, M., A. Rahman, and G. R. Dennis. "Implications to stormwater management as a result of lot scale rainwater tank systems: a case study in Western Sydney, Australia." Water Science and Technology 65, no. 8 (April 1, 2012): 1475–82. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.2012.033.
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Rainwater tanks are increasingly adopted in Australia to reduce potable water demand and are perceived to reduce the volume of stormwater discharge from developments. This paper investigates the water balance of rainwater tanks, in particular the possible impacts these tanks could have in controlling the stormwater discharge volume. The study collected water quantity data from two sites in the Hawkesbury City Council area, New South Wales, Australia and utilised the collected data in a simple water balance model to assess the effectiveness of rainwater tanks in reducing the stormwater discharge volume. The results indicate that a significant reduction in discharge volume from a lot scale development can be achieved if the rainwater tank is connected to multiple end-uses, but is minimal when using irrigation alone. In addition, the commonly used volumetric runoff coefficient of 0.9 was found to over-estimate the runoff from the roof areas and to thereby under-estimate the available volume within the rainwater tanks for retention or detention. Also, sole reliance on the water in the rainwater tanks can make the users aware of their water use pattern and water availability, resulting in significant reductions in water use as the supply dwindles, through self-imposed water restrictions.
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Burgess, M. D. "Planning for Reuse. Developing a Strategy for the Northern Territory, Australia." Water Science and Technology 24, no. 9 (November 1, 1991): 31–43. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.1991.0233.
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A harsh climate, extended dry periods and relatively expensive water resources underly the potential for effluent reuse in the Northern Territory, Australia. The cost of supplying potable water and the potential offsetting effects of utilising sewage effluent are reviewed. The need to firmly establish the true cost to the community of different supply options is identified. Major cost benefits accrue where reuse will enable deferment of either significant potable source augmentation or sewage treatment works upgrading and where horticultural prospects are good at a reuse site close to the treatment works. An overall strategy plan for increasing the potential of reuse is described. This plan includes firm cost management procedures, marketing activities, appropriate land planning measures and a commitment to research and development.
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Campbell, Lachlan. "Wimmera River (Victoria, Australia) – Increasing Use of a Diminishing Resource." Water Science and Technology 21, no. 2 (February 1, 1989): 245–49. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.1989.0058.
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The Wimmera River is central western Victoria's most important river, rising in the Grampians National Park, filling storages that supply the major water supply to the vast Wimmera and Mallee regions. It passes through the Little Desert National Park, an area of significant scenic, recreation, historical and conservation value and terminates in Victoria's largest inland freshwater lakes (Lakes Hindmarsh and Albacutya). The brittleness of the whole closed Wimmera River system, and the over committal of the water resources was brought to the public's attention when appeals were lodged against the proposal to licence a discharge of high standard secondary effluent from an extended aeration oxidation ditch and lagoon treatment facility at Horsham. Residents, user and community groups, Municipal Councils and Government Departments, aware of the deterioration of the Wimmera River had somewhere to focus their attention. Victoria's and possibly Australia's longest environmental appeal, lasting twenty-five days, and a State Environment Protection Policy, determined that all major point sources of nutrients should be removed from the River. More resources for clearing of unwanted emergent weeds, more facilities for protection of Crown Land and catchments generally, and the implementation of environmental summer flows as piping of the Wimmera-Mallee Stock and Domestic System proceeds, are all required. A River Management Board with strength, wealth, good public relations and a dedication to the task could make the Wimmera River an example for all Australia and a tourist attraction of immense value to the region.
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Forouzangohar, Mohsen, Neville D. Crossman, Richard J. MacEwan, D. Dugal Wallace, and Lauren T. Bennett. "Ecosystem Services in Agricultural Landscapes: A Spatially Explicit Approach to Support Sustainable Soil Management." Scientific World Journal 2014 (2014): 1–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/483298.
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Soil degradation has been associated with a lack of adequate consideration of soil ecosystem services. We demonstrate a broadly applicable method for mapping changes in the supply of two priority soil ecosystem services to support decisions about sustainable land-use configurations. We used a landscape-scale study area of 302 km2in northern Victoria, south-eastern Australia, which has been cleared for intensive agriculture. Indicators representing priority soil services (soil carbon sequestration and soil water storage) were quantified and mapped under both a current and a future 25-year land-use scenario (the latter including a greater diversity of land uses and increased perennial crops and irrigation). We combined diverse methods, including soil analysis using mid-infrared spectroscopy, soil biophysical modelling, and geostatistical interpolation. Our analysis suggests that the future land-use scenario would increase the landscape-level supply of both services over 25 years. Soil organic carbon content and water storage to 30 cm depth were predicted to increase by about 11% and 22%, respectively. Our service maps revealed the locations of hotspots, as well as potential trade-offs in service supply under new land-use configurations. The study highlights the need to consider diverse land uses in sustainable management of soil services in changing agricultural landscapes.
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Xiong, X., F. Stagnitti, N. Turoczy, G. Allinson, P. Li, J. Nieber, T. S. Steenhuis, et al. "Competitive sorption of metals in water repellent soils: Implications for irrigation recycled water." Soil Research 43, no. 3 (2005): 351. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/sr04086.
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Australia is a water-stressed nation and demand on potable water supply is increasing. Consequently water conservation and reuse are increasingly becoming important. Irrigation of recycled wastewater on water repellent soils is a technology that is being trialled as a means of improving crop production and conserving potable supply. However, recycled water contains potentially harmful heavy metals. This paper reports the competitive sorption and desorption of several common heavy metals found in soils collected from a farm located in the south-east of South Australia. The soil from this location is severely water repellent, but some sites were amended with kaolinite clay (Si4Al4O10(OH)8) about 7 and 15 years ago. The metals studied were Cu, Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Zn. Competitive sorption of the metals was distinctly observed. For all heavy metals, the quantity of metal sorbed was higher in amended soil, and there was a strong correlation between the specific sorption to total sorption ratio and the amount of clay in the soil. The sorption intensities varied with metal, Cr, Pb, and Cu having a high sorption tendencies and Zn, Cd, and Ni having comparatively low sorption tendencies. The total sorption capacity for all metals increased in clay-treated soils compared with non-treated soils. On average, clay-amended water repellent soils had a 20–40% increased capacity to adsorb total metals; however, this increase was largely caused by the increased capacities to adsorb Zn, Cd, and Ni. The effect of clay treatment largely enhanced the sorption capacity of relatively weakly adsorbing heavy metals. The implications for using recycled wastewater on the long-term sustainable agro-environmental management of these soils are discussed.
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Wong, P., P. Docker, E. Gabbrielli, and P. Wade. "Management and construction of a major zero discharge water supply and treatment scheme at mount piper power station - Australia." Desalination 98, no. 1-3 (September 1994): 225–38. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0011-9164(94)00147-2.
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Cravens, Daniel. "US experiences in water management of shale gas developments." APPEA Journal 54, no. 2 (2014): 541. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/aj13114.
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More than 1,700 drilling rigs are operating in the US, with more than half in Texas. The avid and dry Permian Basin in southwest Texas is one of the most prolific oil and gas basins in the US. Vertical drilling to depths of 4,000 m, with horizontal laterals 2,000 m, is common. The fraccing of a horizontal well requires large amounts of water. In areas that completely depend on groundwater for frac water, the demand for the resource is high. Water transport and treatment costs can threaten the viability of even the best of projects. The volume of water required for different horizontal frac operations, changes depending on the formation, frac solutions, and lateral frac distances. Discoveries are being made that have determined that larger diameter horizontal fracs are yielding more product, but they require even more water. The oil and gas industry is beginning to realise that groundwater drilling and resource management can make or break an oil and gas project. In these areas where water availability depends initially on groundwater supply, a complete understanding of the available groundwater resource is critical. Economically viable solutions can ultimately be a combination of new wells, treated water, moveable water distribution systems, mobile treatment plants, surface storage, and deep injection of brine fluids. In this extended abstract, the experiences gained on existing shale gas developments in the US are used to address specific challenges faced in Australia.
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Barron, O., A. Barr, M. Donn, and D. Pollock. "Combined consideration for decentralised non-potable water supply from local groundwater and nutrient load reduction in urban drainage." Water Science and Technology 63, no. 6 (March 1, 2011): 1289–97. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.2011.373.
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Integrated analysis of land use change and its effect on catchment water balance allows the selection of appropriate water and land management options for new urban developments to minimise the environmental impacts of urbanisation. A process-based coupled surface water-groundwater model was developed for Southern River catchment (Perth, Western Australia) to investigate the effect of urban development on catchment water balance. It was shown that urbanisation of highly permeable flat catchments with shallow groundwater resulted in significant increase in net groundwater recharge. The increased recharge creates the opportunity to use local groundwater resources for non-potable water supply with the added advantage of reducing the total discharge from new urban developments. This minimises the environmental impacts of increased urbanisation, as higher discharge is often associated with greater nutrient loads to receiving environments. Through the used of water balance modelling it was demonstrated that there are both water and nutrient benefits from local groundwater use in terms of reduced nutrient exports to receiving waters and additional water resources for non-potable water supply.
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Mullenger, J., G. Ryan, and J. Hearn. "A water authority's experience with HACCP." Water Supply 2, no. 5-6 (December 1, 2002): 149–55. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/ws.2002.0163.
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South East Water Limited (SEWL) is one of three retail water authorities operating in Melbourne, Australia. It was the first water authority in Australia to obtain HACCP accreditation for the supply of drinking water, in November 1999. This article presents an overview of the first two years' experience in developing and establishing a food safety management plan using Codex Alimentarius Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) to ensure the water reaching customers is safe, aesthetically pleasant and meets operating licence requirements. HACCP has improved the way in which our distribution and reticulation systems are managed, primarily through the refinement and optimisation of standard operating procedures. In addition, more consideration has been given to the development of contingency plans and the appropriate use of system redundancy to ensure quality of supply. Accreditation was only the beginning of a process. Once attained, there was an ongoing need to maintain and refine hazard measurement and reduction procedures. The major challenge for SEWL has been the integration of HACCP company-wide. Spreading of HACCP was directly achieved through the involvement of operators, key personnel and subcontractors in the assessment of hazards and evaluating the appropriateness of critical control points. This not only assisted with improvements to the existing system, and the identification of system strengths and weaknesses, but was also an integral component in awareness training for HACCP. It was through assessment workshops and training that operators were able to see HACCP as primarily a summary of current practices, but with the focus of improving or maintaining water quality. The net benefits of HACCP are difficult to quantify. Overall there is a greater understanding of water quality issues, more streamlined work procedures, and an improved response to customer enquires relating to water quality. This has been most clearly demonstrated by a net decrease in customer complaints over the two years since HACCP was implemented.
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Moglia, M., K. S. Alexander, and A. Sharma. "Discussion of the enabling environments for decentralised water systems." Water Science and Technology 63, no. 10 (May 1, 2011): 2331–39. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.2011.443.
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Decentralised water supply systems are becoming increasingly affordable and commonplace in Australia and have the potential to alleviate urban water shortages and reduce pollution into natural receiving marine and freshwater streams. Learning processes are necessary to support the efficient implementation of decentralised systems. These processes reveal the complex socio-technical and institutional factors to be considered when developing an enabling environment supporting decentralised water and wastewater servicing solutions. Critical to the technological transition towards established decentralised systems is the ability to create strategic and adaptive capacity to promote learning and dialogue. Learning processes require institutional mechanisms to ensure the lessons are incorporated into the formulation of policy and regulation, through constructive involvement of key government institutions. Engagement of stakeholders is essential to the enabling environment. Collaborative learning environments using systems analysis with communities (social learning) and adaptive management techniques are useful in refining and applying scientists' and managers' knowledge (knowledge management).
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Schlafrig, J., J. Sturman, G. Ho, and K. Mathew. "Water auditing: the case for statutory requirements." Water Supply 8, no. 6 (December 1, 2008): 597–601. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/ws.2008.112.
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Drought across swathes of Australia, highlights our need for water conservation in addition to seeking new sources of water (demand and supply-side resource options). Water conservation or efficiency improvement is currently a non-systematic process along the lines of ‘if we do such and such then we will save so much water’. Such an approach is ad-hoc and only has the appearance of being ‘quantitative’. We would class it as qualitative, or maybe advanced qualitative water conservation. True quantitative or structured water auditing of non-domestic water consumption is an iterative, systematic and documented process of obtaining reliable use data, validated by a closure approach. Opportunities are identified for water use reduction, water reuse, recycling and for water resource substitution. Financial assessment of savings in cost against cost of measures will provide a payback period. A water management strategy or Water Management Plan (WMP) as it is known in Victoria, Australia, is devised which is consistent with legal requirements, the enterprise's environmental policy and its movement towards sustainable development. Regulators have legislated for mandatory WMPs and audits in Victoria, but this is the only state so far to do this. Mandatory water auditing should be an uncontested choice as it can only provide a win:win situation regulation to the private sector. We argue that only the systematic process provided by structural water auditing constitutes quantitative water conservation. Further, statutory obligation for water users to engage in the water auditing process will give the broad, systematic quantitative information, and based upon which optimal water management strategies or WMPs can be devised. This will ensure a rational approach to our future water needs and the needs of our environment. It is anticipated that voluntary auditing in the arenas not mandated will increase in the long term if this is done.
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Jones, Gary J., and Wojciech Poplawski. "Understanding and management of cyanobacterial blooms in sub-tropical reservoirs of Queensland, Australia." Water Science and Technology 37, no. 2 (January 1, 1998): 161–68. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.1998.0130.
Full textAbstract:
A three year study of two sub-tropical water supply (potable and irrigation) reservoirs - Baroon Pocket and Leslie - aimed to develop an improved understanding and effective management strategy for the control of low level toxic cyanobacterial ‘blooms’. The two reservoirs appear to be typical of those elsewhere in tropical and sub-tropical Australia, being strongly stratified and monomictic if deep, or polymictic to monomictic (depending on inter-annual climatic variation) if shallow. In both reservoirs, thermal stratification appeared to be the key factor influencing the onset and demise of cyanobacterial blooms. Hypolimnetic deoxygenation was rapid during periods of stratification, and high rates of nitrogen and phosphorus release from bottom sediments occurred during anoxia. External nutrient inputs were dominated by episodic storm in-flows following the passing of (sub)tropical depressions, carrying massive sediment and nutrient loads into the reservoirs. As a consequence of this, and coupled with the high degree of internal nutrient recycling and the low national targets for cyanobacterial control in Australia, we believe that reduction of external nutrient inputs alone, through improved catchment management, may not be sufficient to prevent cyanobacterial blooms. Therefore, more emphasis should be given to ‘in-lake’ control strategies such as destratification, biomanipulation and in situ sediment treatment.
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Byleveld, Paul M., Daniel Deere, and Annette Davison. "Water safety plans: planning for adverse events and communicating with consumers." Journal of Water and Health 6, S1 (March 1, 2008): 1–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wh.2008.035.
Full textAbstract:
A wide range of microbial and chemical characteristics in drinking water have the potential to affect human health. However, it is not possible or practical to test drinking water for all potentially harmful characteristics. If drinking water is contaminated, people may already be exposed by the time test results are available. The ‘boil water alert’ issued in Sydney, Australia in 1998 following the detection of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in the finished water supply, highlighted the uncertainties associated with the public health response to test results. The Sydney experience supports the international consensus that a preventive risk-management approach to the supply of drinking water (manifesting as water safety plans (WSPs)) is the most reliable way to protect public health. A key component of a comprehensive WSP is that water suppliers and health authorities must have plans to respond in the case of water contamination and/or outbreaks. These plans must include clear guidance on when to issue warnings to consumers, and how these warnings are to be communicated. The pressure on health authorities to develop clear and systematic boil-water guidance will increase as utilities all over the world develop their WSPs.
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Barrington, Dani, Kathryn Fuller, and Andrew McMillan. "Water safety planning: adapting the existing approach to community-managed systems in rural Nepal." Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development 3, no. 3 (May 6, 2013): 392–401. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/washdev.2013.120.
Full textAbstract:
Water Safety Plans (WSPs) improve the quality and secure the quantity of drinking water supplies, and hence improve public health outcomes. In developing countries such as Nepal, thousands of residents die each year as a result of poor water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services and WSPs show great promise for improving both health and livelihoods. The Nepali Non-Governmental Organisation Nepal Water for Health (NEWAH) has been working in partnership with Engineers Without Borders Australia and WaterAid Nepal to develop a WSP methodology suited to rural, community-managed water supply systems. Three pilot projects were undertaken incorporating community-based hazard management into the standard World Health Organization and Nepali Department of Water Supply and Sewerage WSP approaches. The successes and challenges of these pilots were assessed, and it was determined that community education, behaviour change, and the distribution of simplified WSP documentation to households and managers were essential to implementing successful WSPs within this context. This new WSP methodology is currently being mainstreamed throughout all of NEWAH's WASH projects in rural Nepal, as well as being shared with the wider Nepali WASH sector.
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Velasco-Muñoz, Juan, José Aznar-Sánchez, Luis Belmonte-Ureña, and Isabel Román-Sánchez. "Sustainable Water Use in Agriculture: A Review of Worldwide Research." Sustainability 10, no. 4 (April 5, 2018): 1084. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su10041084.
Full textAbstract:
Sustainability of water use in agriculture is a line of research that has gained in importance worldwide. The present study reviewed 25 years of international research on sustainable water use in agriculture. A bibliometric analysis was developed to sample 2084 articles. Results indicate exponential growth in the number of articles published per year, with research in this field having acquired a global scale. Environmental Science and Agricultural and Biological Sciences are the main categories. Three journals—Agricultural Water Management, Water Resources Management and Nongye Gongcheng Xuebao Agricultural Engineering—published the most of the articles. China, the U.S., Australia, India and Germany produced the most research. The three institutions that published the most articles were all Chinese (Chinese Academy of Sciences, China Agricultural University and Northwest A&F University). The most cited authors were Ridoutt, Hoekstra and Zhang. The keywords most frequently used include: water-use, irrigation, water-management, water-supply, and sustainability. A network map shows three clusters that focus on the environmental, agronomic and management aspects. The findings of this study can assist researchers in this field by providing an overview of research on the sustainability of hydric resources.