Future of Adelaide's water supply

A CSIRO study indicates it is now possible for Adelaide to consider a future water supply free of its dependence on the Murray Darling River system.

Preliminary work by CSIRO's Urban Water Program shows that Adelaide Hills could provide water for the city's needs all year round with some to spare.

"There is potential to make better use of 168 billion litres per year of rainwater and waste water currently being lost down city drains and in the sewage system," says Mr Andrew Speers, leader of CSIRO's Urban Water Program.

"There is an exciting opportunity to learn how to reconfigure urban water supply systems. Adelaide is the obvious place to do this. It will not be possible to recover all of this but it is worth spending the time to work out how much can be recovered".

"The potential recovery from storm water alone would supply as much as 55 billion litres per year — almost a third of Adelaide's current water needs..." he said.

Recycling just some of the city's waste water and run-off could reduce Adelaide's dependence on the Murray to zero and reduce use of water from the Adelaide Hills to less than half the current demand.

For further information please contact either Mr Mike Young Director, Policy and Economic Research Unit CSIRO Land and Water on 0408 488 538, or Mr Andrew Speers Leader, CSIRO Urban Water Program on 0417 425 934.

Item provided courtesy of CSIRO