After Australia’s floods subside, a study led by Flinders University has called for action on 18 challenges facing more sustainable use of vital groundwater. Groundwater represents a natural resource valued at more than $34 billion to the economy. Over-extraction and unregulated pumping in Australia are already contributing to water table declines. There are serious long-term impacts on food production, other users, dependent ecosystems, and the environment, particularly during drought.
Flinders University Professor Peter Cook, from the National Centre of Groundwater Research and Training (NCGRT), says groundwater professionals across Australia ranked the list of challenges.
“We have incomplete knowledge of groundwater systems and the field’s complex management arrangements and decision-making processes. The most highly ranked challenge is the difficulty in determining and setting regional-scale volumetric water extraction limits,” says Professor Cook.
“Other major challenges are determining how ecosystems will respond to declines in groundwater levels. We also need to implement and enforce limits on level declines. We also need to look at how to manage extractions.”
Underground water supplies provide up to one-third of the water in Australia.
Future communications needed for groundwater management
The study also calls for better channels of stakeholder communications when applying management strategies or making decisions on its management.
“Identifying these key challenges is the first step in improving Australia’s groundwater management,” Professor Cook adds.
“We must remember that it is one of Australia’s most important natural resources. It’s sometimes the only water source for townships, farms and mines – and supports other urban areas, agriculture and industry around the country.”
The study involves NCGRT researchers from Flinders University, University of NSW Sydney, University of WA, Monash University, James Cook University, RMIT University, University of Queensland, Charles Darwin University, Australian National University, University of SA, University of Melbourne, as well as CSIRO Land and Water.
The article has been published in the Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies (Elsevier) DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrh.2022.101262.
The National Centre of Groundwater Research and Training is Australia’s leading organisation focusing on national and international collaborations between scientists, government and industry to promote and support research efforts to enhance environmental, economic and social wellbeing.
Related Articles:
- Whiteman Park highlights groundwater research
- Designing better water filters with AI
- Scientists lead new research to improve UK rivers