Water find a boon for region
New water resources have been identified to meet the future water demands of the Great Southern over the next three decades.
An expected increase in population and predicted drop in regional rainfall over the next 30 years has led to a blueprint to ensure Great Southern towns can address the increase in demand which will soar by 75 per cent by 2043.
The Department of Water’s Great Southern regional water supply strategy is set to be launched today after the surveying and drilling of 16 locations in the Albany hinterland between Redmond and Manypeaks.
The Albany Advertiser visited one of the drilling locations near Manypeaks last week, which was determined by an aerial electromagnetic survey undertaken in April last year to provide important information about the region’s water resources.
The AEM work, part of a four-year $1.6 million Royalties for Regions funded groundwater drilling and investigation program, identified potential fresh water sources in the hinterland about 20km from Albany.
Investigation of these sources through exploratory drilling and analysis then began in November to determine quantity, quality, availability and recharge of the groundwater resources.
The Department of Water said the results of the drilling would be analysed to build a picture of the volumes and quality of the groundwater for suitability of use in the medium to long term.
Water Minister Mia Davies said the Great Southern was well placed to achieve water security.
She said more wastewater recycling, increased stormwater harvesting and sustainable groundwater were the three main planks of the Great Southern regional water supply strategy
“The demand will be driven by population growth in Albany, Denmark and Katanning, new iron ore and gold mining development, and expansion of industry and irrigated agriculture,” she said.
“By 2050, it is predicted that rainfall in coastal areas will be 2 to 6 per cent less and up to 15 per cent less in inland areas.”
