This week in water, population growth pressures and climate change combine to stress Australian cities’ water systems, while CSIRO achieves a breakthrough in renewable hydrogen production. Across the country, drones protect Melbourne’s drinking water, and Tasmanians guide the future of water services. Internationally, scientists uncover a potentially toxic water treatment compound, and data reveals a startling global freshwater loss since 2014.
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Population growth straining water efficiency efforts
Population growth is eroding gains in water-use efficiency, according to the latest report from Sustainable Population Australia. Efforts like appliance labelling and public campaigns have hit their limits, making new advances harder. Climate change, meanwhile, is drying city water catchments, compounding the stress.
The report highlights that since the early 2000s, many Australian cities have exceeded the reliable supply of water from rainfall and groundwater. Extended droughts are likely to further expose vulnerabilities in urban water systems.
Report co-author Dr Peter Cook said: “Since 2010-11, per person water use in the household sector has remained relatively stable… the low-hanging fruit … have been picked”.
Dr Jonathan Sobels added: “Since the early 2000s, water demand in many Australian cities has exceeded what can be supplied reliably by conventional means, namely rainfall and groundwater.”
Renewable hydrogen production milestone achieved
CSIRO has achieved a major breakthrough in renewable hydrogen technology, successfully completing a 1,000-hour trial at BlueScope Steelworks in Port Kembla. The trial demonstrated that hydrogen could be generated more efficiently by using waste heat and electricity, reducing costs and carbon emissions.
The process, which leverages tubular solid oxide electrolysis (SOE), represents a leap forward in making hydrogen viable for industrial decarbonisation. CSIRO emphasises this as a critical step toward Australia’s clean energy goals and global hydrogen leadership.
Dr Sarb Giddey said: “A substantial reduction in the electricity required (up to 30% saving) for hydrogen production could be a game changer for the nascent hydrogen industry”.
New bill to boost Australia’s role in net zero transformation
Last week the Federal Government tabled the Future Made in Australia Bill 2024, introducing tax incentives to strengthen local renewable hydrogen and critical mineral sectors. It aims to position Australia as a key supplier in the global net-zero transformation while supporting Indigenous businesses.
The bill also responds to calls for deeper collaboration between government, industry and communities to address supply chain gaps. If passed, the legislation will expand Australia’s production capabilities and ensure competitiveness in emerging markets.
Drones deployed to protect Melbourne’s drinking water
Melbourne Water is trialling autonomous drones at Silvan Reservoir to monitor and protect the city’s drinking water. The drones will scan for unauthorised activity and potential risks, like litter or bushfires, across the reservoir’s 65%-supply catchment area.
The initiative underscores the importance of Melbourne’s protected water catchments, which help deliver minimally treated water by restricting public access. This trial also forms part of broader efforts to integrate technology into water security management.
Melbourne Water Senior Asset Manager Ram Ramzan said: “Melbourne is one of the few cities worldwide where drinking water is sourced mainly from catchments with zero or highly restricted public access".
“Every activity in a protected catchment poses a major risk to our drinking water supply, including those that can be introduced by humans and animals, litter and bushfire risks.”
TasWater guided by community recommendations
TasWater is set to implement seven new recommendations, developed after 18 months of public engagement, to guide its Price and Service Plan 5. The suggestions address water conservation, infrastructure upgrades and new services for underserved communities, balancing customer needs and sustainability goals.
The recommendations followed extensive community research and workshops with TasWater staff and external experts. Public reports and transparency will ensure accountability as these changes are integrated.
TasWater General Manager Customer and Community Matt Balfe said: “It’s clear to us that Tasmanians are passionate about ensuring our water infrastructure is resilient and capable of adapting to future challenges”.
“Over the last two months, the panel has met to discuss a raft of feedback from the community, including the current pricing structure, standard of service, and future price increase.”
Caring for Country merges cultures of science
An environmental education day on the Peel River showcased how Indigenous Knowledge and western science can combine to protect waterways. Students from Tamworth high schools participated in activities like electrofishing and seed bombing while learning from local Elders about traditional practices.
The event, co-hosted by WaterNSW and First Nations groups, highlighted river restoration efforts, including snags that create habitats for native species. It also emphasised the role of collaboration in water conservation and cultural understanding.
Potentially toxic compound in drinking water identified
A joint US-Swiss research team has identified chloronitramide anion, a compound formed during chloramination of drinking water. While its toxicity is unconfirmed, its chemical similarity to harmful compounds raises concerns and necessitates further study.
The compound, long speculated but previously elusive due to technical limitations, was synthesised and confirmed using advanced methods. This discovery underscores the need for ongoing vigilance in water treatment safety.
Sustainable groundwater management critical in Oregon
A study from Oregon reveals groundwater in the Harney Basin was being used unsustainably decades before its impacts were fully recognised. The research highlights how economic and hydrological factors intertwine to influence water usage, underscoring the challenges of managing a hidden and undervalued resource.
Groundwater overuse can harm both the environment and communities, often due to insufficient regulation. The researchers emphasise the need for informed policy to align farming practices with sustainable water usage goals.
Oregon State Professor of Applied Economics William Jaeger said: “Groundwater is challenging to manage because it is hidden below ground and poorly understood”.
“It’s frequently extracted at unsustainable rates because, without effective regulation, individual water users have an incentive to act without considering impacts on others."
Earth’s freshwater levels drop significantly
A study using data from NASA and German satellites has revealed a significant and persistent drop in global freshwater reserves starting in 2014. This shift indicates a transition to drier conditions on continents worldwide, with profound implications for agriculture, ecosystems and water management.
Between 2015 and 2023, Earth’s total freshwater storage was, on average, 1,200 cubic kilometres lower than pre-2014 levels. The findings suggest changes in the water cycle linked to climate patterns and human activities.
Subsidence in California’s San Joaquin Valley reaches alarming rates
Land in California’s San Joaquin Valley has been sinking at nearly one inch per year due to groundwater over-extraction, according to new research. The sinking, or "subsidence," has long been observed but only recently quantified, revealing the true scale of its impact on infrastructure and water systems.
Stanford researchers highlighted that subsidence not only damages buildings and roads but also undermines aquifers, reducing their capacity to store water in the future. This study provides a detailed look at how unsustainable water use has reshaped the region.
Stanford University Professor of Geophysics Rosemary Knight said: “With these findings, we can look at the big picture of mitigating this record-breaking subsidence".
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