THE AUSTRALIAN CONTEXT
The World's Driest Inhabited Continent
As the world's driest inhabited continent, everyday life in Aus-
tralia is heavily dependent on a steady supply of freshwater.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australians
consumed an average of 82,000 litres
1
of freshwater per
person in 2019
2
. A further 80 litres of water per connection
every day on average are lost by utilities before even reaching
homes. For small utilities, this figure is around 110 litres per day.
3
By the World Health Organization's standards, Australia is
classified as being under high water stress – meaning that
demand for water is up to 80% of the available supply.
While 99% of the population receives adequate quality
drinking water, some parts of the country (particularly rural
areas) still do not enjoy quality water services consistent
with Goal #6 for clean water and sanitation from the United
Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs).
POLICY AND SOCIAL SETTINGS
Policy Diversity
The Australian Government is taking a proactive stance towards
water management, with the Department of Agriculture, Water
and the Environment overseeing water policies. Combined with
a federal level to apply water policies, there is an ongoing effort
to improve overall efficiency with more customer-focused water
operators.
Population Growth
Pressure on Australia's precious freshwater supply is on the
increase, with projections from the Australian Bureau of
Statistics that the Australian population will reach 29.8 million
people by 2030 – an increase of 21.5% from 2017
4
. To support
this growth, water utilities will be under pressure to continue
delivering quality water from reserves that are already
constrained due to changing weather conditions. This pressure
is driving investment in smart-city initiatives, including using
Internet of Things (IoT) technology to enhance visibility and
better manage water and sewage assets and resources.
Environmental Requirements
In 2015, the United Nations General Assembly laid out 17
Sustainable Development Goals, including Goal 6: "Ensure
availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation
for all".
5
However, meeting this objective will become more
difficult as Australia's supply of freshwater becomes stretched
and more vulnerable to climate change.
1. 1.8 millions of megaliters were consumed per year spread over 9.7 millions housholds (Australian Bureau of Statistics)- average of 2.61 persons per household- equals to about 200 liters per day per person (522 litres per household per day)
2. Australian Bureau of Statistics 2019, 4610.0 – Water account, Australia, 2016-17, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra, Table 1.1, available via: www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/4610.02016-17?OpenDocument#Data
3. Bureau of Meteorology 2019, National performance report 2017-18: Urban water utilities, Part A, Bureau of Meteorology, Canberra, p 61, available via: www.bom.gov.au/water/npr/
4. Australian Bureau of Statistics, https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/population-projections-australia/latest-release
5. United Nations, https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal6
www.lora-alliance.org
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