24 July 2008
Urban Water
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Water Minister Penny Wong, has given assurances that drinking water remains a priority in the southern basin even though the Murray River is at its lowest levels on record. More than a million Australians draw their drinking water from the Murray and there's little prospect of rain between now and the start of Spring.
Water used for domestic purposes, accounts for about 11 per cent of our total consumption. Agriculture uses about 65 per cent. But with the farm sector facing a tough future, is it time to reduce urban water consumption? Patrick Troy from the Australian National University says households could cut their demand for potable water by up to 70 per cent, but we'd have to be prepared to change the way we build. He wants all new developments to include rain and grey water tanks and composting toilets. Would those measures work and what about permanent water restrictions? The future for urban water in Australia Talks.
Guests
Patrick Troy
Fenner School of Environment and Society Australian National University
Quentin Grafton
Crawford School of Economics, Australian National University
Ross Young
executive director Water Services Association of Australia
Further Information
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts - Australia's Water Resources
National Water Commission report
Australian Government Productivity Commission - Towards Urban Water Reform 2008
Presenter
Paul Barclay
Story Researcher and Producer
Debra McCoy
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