Securing Water for Life in Canberra
Across Australia, water utilities are working hard to manage the effects of climate change and increased variability on water resources, and combat the severe and ongoing drought.
Temperatures have risen on average
up to one degree in the last 50 years Australia-wide, and it is expected that
the change in temperature will continue in both maximums and minimums in the
future. Rainfall patterns have also changed significantly over the last 50
years, with an overall decrease along much of the eastern and southwest regions
of Australia.
Along with many Australian cities,
Canberra, the capital city, has had significant climate disruption over the last
few years. Inflows into Australian Capital Territory (ACT) catchments have
decreased by 63% since 2001, and in 2006 alone they were down by nearly 90% of
the long-term average. In addition to this, 2007 proved to be the hottest year
on record in the ACT for the fourth consecutive year in a row—and Australia’s
Bureau of Meteorology and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research
Organisation (CSIRO) predict further global warming and regional climate change.
Introducing measures to reduce
demand have become a key strategic focus—not just while water authorities are
working on ways to find additional water supplies, but for the long term. Many
Australian states have determined a target for per-capita reductions in water
use. In the ACT, it is a 25% reduction by 2023.
Canberra Bushfires
Due to the nationwide drought,
mandatory water restrictions were introduced in the ACT for the first time in
2002 as the first step in securing water supply. The following year, the ACT was
devastated by severe bushfires that caused extensive damage to the Cotter
catchment, the primary water supply source. The effects of the bushfires on
water quality coupled with severe drought conditions triggered ACTEW Corp. to
implement a range of measures and continue to investigate new ways to secure the
ACT region’s water supply.
 |
Photos: Image Courtesy of Bureau of
Meteorology, and Japan Meteorologic |
2007 proved to be the hottest year in the ACT for the fourth
consecutive year, and Australia's Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO predict further global warming and regional
climate change. |
 |
ACTEW Corp. is working to increase the existing storage capacity
by 35% by enlarging the Cotter Dam. |
Reducing Water Use
In Canberra, a set of low-level
mandatory restrictions, Permanent Water Conservation Measures, were introduced
as a long-term demand management tool to assist in achieving the target of 25%
reduction in water use.
The aim was to leverage off the
high levels of awareness raised during the drought and continue some of the
sensible, common sense water use practices that had been adopted. To avoid
non-compliance and complacency in the future, introduction of these measures
needed the full support of Canberrans. To overcome this challenge, residents
were engaged in the finalisation of the permanent regime through a trial with
extensive community consultation over the 2005–06 Summer. The consultation
confirmed the community’s willingness to forever change their habits, with 93%
in support of permanent water conservation.
The Permanent Water Conservation
Measures are expected to contribute to an approximate 8% reduction in water use.
Other measures, such as water efficiency programs with rebates and subsidies,
pricing, the implementation of water-sensitive urban design principles in new
developments, and ongoing public awareness and education campaigns, will also
assist in meeting the 2023 25% target.
Because the introduction of the
measures the Canberra community has endured three levels of restrictions, and
since December 2006, the ACT has remained in Stage 3 Water Restrictions, and
only narrowly escaped Stage 4—the highest stage in our current Water Restriction
Scheme, to ensure longevity of supply.
Due to this, citywide water
consumption in the ACT and region came down significantly in 2007 from previous
years. Consumption amounted to 44 gigalitres in 2007, whereas for the six years
prior to 2007, annual usage ranged from 52 gigalitres to 69 gigalitres that were
already significant savings compared with pre-drought years (climate adjusted).
On average, that is a saving of around 15 gigalitres; around 7,500 Olympic-sized
swimming pools.
Security Through
Diversity
With the Australian and worldwide
climate showing no signs of improvement, securing water supply through diversity
is becoming the norm. This means preparing for reduced long-term inflows into
our reservoirs and for more frequent droughts that are longer and drier than the
one we are currently experiencing.
A range of infrastructure
solutions are needed, such as taking water from a variety of sources, looking
for new sources of water that are less dependent upon local rainfall, and
continuing to reduce the use of water through water conservation.
In addition to capital works
undertaken since 2004 to augment supply, ACTEW is currently working on four
major infrastructure projects including increasing the existing storage capacity
by 35% by enlarging the Cotter Dam to secure water supply in the future.
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For more information, visit
www.actew.com.au.
Bamik Hambaz is the Communications Officer for ACTEW Corp., and can be contacted at bamik.hambaz@actew.com.au.
September-October 2008
Securing Water for Life in Canberra
Across Australia, water utilities are working hard to manage the effects of climate change and increased variability on water resources, and combat the severe and ongoing drought.
Temperatures have risen on average
up to one degree in the last 50 years Australia-wide, and it is expected that
the change in temperature will continue in both maximums and minimums in the
future. Rainfall patterns have also changed significantly over the last 50
years, with an overall decrease along much of the eastern and southwest regions
of Australia.
Along with many Australian cities,
Canberra, the capital city, has had significant climate disruption over the last
few years. Inflows into Australian Capital Territory (ACT) catchments have
decreased by 63% since 2001, and in 2006 alone they were down by nearly 90% of
the long-term average. In addition to this, 2007 proved to be the hottest year
on record in the ACT for the fourth consecutive year in a row—and Australia’s
Bureau of Meteorology and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research
Organisation (CSIRO) predict further global warming and regional climate change.
Introducing measures to reduce
demand have become a key strategic focus—not just while water authorities are
working on ways to find additional water supplies, but for the long term. Many
Australian states have determined a target for per-capita reductions in water
use. In the ACT, it is a 25% reduction by 2023.
Canberra Bushfires
Due to the nationwide drought,
mandatory water restrictions were introduced in the ACT for the first time in
2002 as the first step in securing water supply. The following year, the ACT was
devastated by severe bushfires that caused extensive damage to the Cotter
catchment, the primary water supply source. The effects of the bushfires on
water quality coupled with severe drought conditions triggered ACTEW Corp. to
implement a range of measures and continue to investigate new ways to secure the
ACT region’s water supply.
|
Photos: Image Courtesy of Bureau of
Meteorology, and Japan Meteorologic |
2007 proved to be the hottest year in the ACT for the fourth
consecutive year, and Australia's Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO predict further global warming and regional
climate change. |
|
ACTEW Corp. is working to increase the existing storage capacity
by 35% by enlarging the Cotter Dam. |
Reducing Water Use
In Canberra, a set of low-level
mandatory restrictions, Permanent Water Conservation Measures, were introduced
as a long-term demand management tool to assist in achieving the target of 25%
reduction in water use.
The aim was to leverage off the
high levels of awareness raised during the drought and continue some of the
sensible, common sense water use practices that had been adopted. To avoid
non-compliance and complacency in the future, introduction of these measures
needed the full support of Canberrans. To overcome this challenge, residents
were engaged in the finalisation of the permanent regime through a trial with
extensive community consultation over the 2005–06 Summer. The consultation
confirmed the community’s willingness to forever change their habits, with 93%
in support of permanent water conservation.
The Permanent Water Conservation
Measures are expected to contribute to an approximate 8% reduction in water use.
Other measures, such as water efficiency programs with rebates and subsidies,
pricing, the implementation of water-sensitive urban design principles in new
developments, and ongoing public awareness and education campaigns, will also
assist in meeting the 2023 25% target.
Because the introduction of the
measures the Canberra community has endured three levels of restrictions, and
since December 2006, the ACT has remained in Stage 3 Water Restrictions, and
only narrowly escaped Stage 4—the highest stage in our current Water Restriction
Scheme, to ensure longevity of supply.
Due to this, citywide water
consumption in the ACT and region came down significantly in 2007 from previous
years. Consumption amounted to 44 gigalitres in 2007, whereas for the six years
prior to 2007, annual usage ranged from 52 gigalitres to 69 gigalitres that were
already significant savings compared with pre-drought years (climate adjusted).
On average, that is a saving of around 15 gigalitres; around 7,500 Olympic-sized
swimming pools.
Security Through
Diversity
With the Australian and worldwide
climate showing no signs of improvement, securing water supply through diversity
is becoming the norm. This means preparing for reduced long-term inflows into
our reservoirs and for more frequent droughts that are longer and drier than the
one we are currently experiencing.
A range of infrastructure
solutions are needed, such as taking water from a variety of sources, looking
for new sources of water that are less dependent upon local rainfall, and
continuing to reduce the use of water through water conservation.
In addition to capital works
undertaken since 2004 to augment supply, ACTEW is currently working on four
major infrastructure projects including increasing the existing storage capacity
by 35% by enlarging the Cotter Dam to secure water supply in the future.
For more information, visit
www.actew.com.au.
Bamik Hambaz is the Communications Officer for ACTEW Corp., and can be contacted at bamik.hambaz@actew.com.au.