Adapting to climate change is the main driver of $14 billion in urban water industry infrastructure projects now underway to develop new sources of water, upgrade wastewater systems and cater for burgeoning urban population growth, the annual Water Report Card shows.
The Report Card released by the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA), outlines the $30 billion investment in a portfolio of new water sources which commenced in 2006 and will conclude in 2013 when Adelaide and Melbourne's
desalination plants begin operation.
This massive investment coupled with community awareness of water efficiency, has set Australia at the international forefront in managing urban water systems.
The Parliamentary Secretary for Water, The Hon. Dr Mike Kelly officially released the WSAA Report Card in Canberra this evening.
Much capital expenditure relates to developing new water sources to mitigate risks associated with climate change and to "cut reliance on rainfall run-off," the Executive Director of the WSAA, Ross Young, said at the launch (See Appendix).
"Relying on rainfall is a high risk strategy in an era of climate change," Mr Young said.
Mr Young noted that capital city residential water consumption continues to fall.
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The extent to which water efficiency has been embraced by urban communities is one of the great social changes that have occurred in Australia over the last decade," he said.
"Had consumption held at 2002/3 levels, a further 210 gigalitres - equal to the annual Melbourne household water use - would have been consumed in 2007/8."
"Australia leads the world in implementing water efficiency programs in cities and towns."
Mr Young said the Australian community had responded by embracing and developing a very strong water conservation ethos that grew as the spectre of climate change turned into a harsh reality.
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The link between climate change and falling storage levels and the resultant imposition of often inconvenient and harsh water restrictions is very clear to most Australians," Mr Young said
"It is because of water scarcity that Australians view climate change as a 'here and now