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Theme 3: Human Impacts on Catchments

Topic: Competition for Water

Why is there competition for water?

In Australia, and particularly South Australia, water is a scarce and limited resource and competition for this precious commodity is high. This is especially true when you consider that water is critical for the economy, for basic human survival and also for the environment.

Humans need good quality water for drinking and hygiene and it is essential to all forms of economic activity. The environment also needs water to maintain delicate ecosystems and overall catchment health.

Most of South Australia's water comes from two main sources: the Murray River and the Mt Lofty Ranges Watershed. The management of the Murray River and the Mt Lofty Ranges involves fierce competition between sectors, interest groups, Local, State and Federal Governments, environmental organisations and individuals in society. These water sources provide water for the environment, industry, food sources, drinking water, recreation, business, domestic use and more.

How is competition for water being managed?

Competition for water is being managed in a number of different ways across the state and country. For example, there are water caps, sharing deals, flow restrictions, agreements on water for the environment, licensing, trading and other agreements between governments, sectors and interest groups.

For more information on how South Australia's water resources are managed click here: www.dwlbc.sa.gov.au/water/index.html

Student Activity Ideas

  • Why is the conservation of water critical for the long-term sustainability of the Murray-Darling catchment and all other catchments in South Australia?
  • Brainstorm some competing interests for water? (Look at human needs, social/recreational needs, economic needs, environmental needs.)
  • Research competition for water between the different states. How is this being managed and how are conflicts being resolved?

Enquiry Learning

  • Is water a limited resource in South Australia?
  • The management of the Murray River involves fierce competition between sectors, interest groups, Local, State and Federal Governments, environmental organisations and individuals in our society. Why then is the conservation of water critical for the long term sustainability of the Murray-Darling catchment and all other catchments in South Australia?
  • What are sectors doing to address the problems of competing demands for limited resources? (Look at water caps, sharing deals, flow restrictions, agreements on water for the environment, licensing, trading and other agreements between governments, sectors and interest groups.)
  • How does the Murray River provide water for the environment, industry, food sources, drinking water, recreation, business, domestic use and more in local communities?

Internet Resources

Type Description Resources Covering the Topic
Easy
  • Water use.
  • Colour poster to download and print.
  • Provides a summary with sketches of all the sectors of society using and competing for water.
 US Geological Survey
water.usgs.gov/outreach/poster1/
Poster1.html
  • Brief discussion about the increasing competition for water between rural and urban Australia.
 ABC
www.abc.net.au/rural/news/stories/
s130116.htm
  • Competition between States for water. Short article in the Australian newspaper about competition for water.
  • Page contains links to numerous articles about water competition across Australia.
 The Australian
www.theaustralian.news.com.au/
common/story_page/
0,5744,3520440%255E12810,00.html
  • Whose water is it?
  • How do the States share water from the Murray?
 Murray-Darling Basin Commission
www.mdbc.gov.au/naturalresources/
about/sharing_water.htm
  • Comprehensive summary of environmental flow issues, including pressure from different sectors for the use of water.
 Environmental Flow Fact Sheets
NCC Water and Fisheries
www.nccnsw.org.au/water/context/
flows_fs.html
  • Why flows are important.
  • Covers the main issues in NSW and gives statistics about how much water different sectors use.
 NSW EPA
www.epa.nsw.gov.au/soe/soe2000/
cw/cw_flows.htm
More Comprehensive
  • Achieving sustainable management.
  • A comprehensive review of Australia's water resources management, including the sharing of water resources.
 Environment Australia
audit.ea.gov.au/ANRA/water/docs/
national/Water_Sust_Mgmt.html
  • Look at some of the international issues about water competition and scarcity.
 United Nations Environment Program
freshwater.unep.net/index.cfm