If it dosen't rain in the next few months in some areas of Oz?.

Submitted: Sunday, Jul 14, 2019 at 10:12

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axle

Even though some areas have had water flow into their catchment, its quite disturbing, when you read about some major towns that will be dry within six months.

Governments talk about Millions for a sports stadium in the big smoke, but fail to
to have a plan to harvest water on the coastlines and get it inland, The cost would be astronomical for sure ,but what about the money wasted on non viable projects.

Growing up we survived on two 1000gal tanks, and a hand dug well, for all our needs, Are we taking to much for granted with our most valuable commodity?

Cheers Axle

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Reply By: Ron N - Sunday, Jul 14, 2019 at 19:42

Sunday, Jul 14, 2019 at 19:42

The answer is Yes, Yes and Yes. Google "Water Wars of the 21st Century".
I recently watched a Netflix doco called "The Future of Water".
It's a story about the conflicts between nations in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, over water supplies.
It's sobering watching, particularly the part about the population expansion in 3rd world countries.
Even more so, when those 3rd World Govts are encouraging an increase in their populations.

This century will be the century of the grab for water. Our useless politicians have about as much forward planning ability as a bunch of chimps, when it comes to ensuring water and energy security for the coming decades.

There will be civilisation collapse in many areas, as water supplies dry up. Our climate is getting drier and drier every decade.

The S.W. of W.A. has had a 30% overall reduction in annual rainfall since 1980.
Perth's and a lot of W.A.'s expansion, would have been seriously crimped by now, if it wasn't for our two desalination plants, which are both working flat out - and supplying 40% of Perth's water.

Future water reserves are something we need to address, right now, and with imagination and foresight.

Cheers, Ron.

AnswerID: 626726

Follow Up By: Ron N - Sunday, Jul 14, 2019 at 20:42

Sunday, Jul 14, 2019 at 20:42

I forgot to add, when I was in short pants in the 1950's, I lived 2 kms from Gnangara Lake.
Gnangara Lake sat over the top of the Gnangara Mound, the underground aquifer that supplied ever-increasing amounts of Perth's water, for all purposes, from drinking, to market gardening, to industrial use.

The Gnangara Mound ended up supplying about 60% of Perths water requirements as the dams in the Perth Hills continued to never fill up from the 1980's onwards.

Gnangara Lake in the 1950's was crystal-clear water, like rainwater, with a purity of 99.999%.
The lake was 12 feet deep (3.66M) and you could see the sandy bottom 50 metres out from the shoreline.

But constant water demand, unlicenced bores, and unmetered water draw, saw the massive Gnangara Mound aquifer deplete to about half its original size.
Gnangara Lake totally disappeared in the 1970's, never to return.

The Gnangara Mound is still supplying a percentage of Perths water, and its level is still declining.
It's a sad state of affairs that reflects Govt mismanagement, lack of adequate water controls, poor planning and a lack of political will, and decision-making.

The Gnangara Mound recharge area continues to be built on, paved over, and generally neglected in planning considerations. There's no sign this will change, not now, nor in the future.

Cheers, Ron.