Water supply and consumption in Australia - statistics & facts
Water scarcity has always been an important issue in Australia, a country that is known as the driest inhabited continent in the world. Variable rainfall has led to differing accessible volumes of water stored across the country, with water catchments struggling to maintain a sustainable water supply in most regions. Water management issues have been intensified by the high demand for water by both household and industry consumers.
Household consumers have also seen the impact of water scarcity, with the average household water bill being the highest in Queensland. Expenditure on public water services by households in Australia has increased per kiloliter over the years. On top of this, water restrictions have been frequently imposed in many regions to combat drought and water shortages.
Where is water sourced in Australia?
The majority of Australia's water is sourced from surface water and groundwater. Surface water, stored in dams or reservoirs, is the main source of the municipal water supply, which means Australia's water supply is vulnerable to climate variations. In particular, low rainfall volumes can impact the water availability in the country. Groundwater extraction in Australia has increased, supplying water to many states, such as Western Australia, where surface water is limited.Water usage in Australia
Water is a crucial resource for Australia's agriculture industry in particular. Crops including cereals, cotton, and sugar cane all require large volumes of water for irrigation. The Murray-Darling Basin, one of Australia's largest and most significant agricultural areas, depends on access to millions of liters of water each year for agricultural purposes.Household consumers have also seen the impact of water scarcity, with the average household water bill being the highest in Queensland. Expenditure on public water services by households in Australia has increased per kiloliter over the years. On top of this, water restrictions have been frequently imposed in many regions to combat drought and water shortages.
