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Water Crisis: WWF Report--continued from Frontpage It is, however, notable that cities with less severe water issues such as New York tend to have a longer tradition of conserving catchment areas and expansive green areas within their boundaries. "The report recognises Sydney-siders have reduced water use significantly since 2000," says Averil Bones, WWF-Australia's Freshwater Policy Manager, "and yet the volume of water in our dams has not recovered." "Perth residents know too well, since an abrupt climatic shift reduced their rainfall by 15% in the 1970s, the need to plan development around water availability. And in Alice Springs - a town with no viable water option but to rely on declining groundwater - there are growing concerns about how long the water will last and how much the town can afford to grow," says Ms Bones. Each day, urban Australians use and discard an average of 300 litres of water each, more than Europeans who consume about 200 litres, and considerably more than those in sub-Saharan Africa who exist on 10-20 litres per day. However, that amount increases exponentially in considering each individual's broader water footprint, for example:
Water problems affecting rich and poor alike are a wake-up call to return to protecting nature as the source of water. As we approach World Water Week governments must find solutions for both rich and poor, which include repairing ageing infrastructure, recycling, reducing contaminants, pricing water according to its true value and changing irrigation practices. "There's no doubt water is a political hot potato both in Australia and globally. We must learn from international experiences in the development and implementation of solutions," says Ms Bones.
Andy Ridley, National Communications Manager, WWF-Australia Notes:
1. More statistics available on page 6 of the report, supported by research from the UNESCO-IHE Water Institute |
