Uncovering the value of groundwater Tuesday, 23 August 2016

An opinion piece written by Darryl Day FIEAust.

Darryl Day FIEAust is a past President of the Australian Water Association, Deputy Chair of the ICE WaRM Board and Executive Director Water Research, Department of Mines and Energy.

Water is the hot issue facing many scientists and engineers involved in policy, research and practice in Northern Australia. The focus on developing Northern Australia and growing the northern economies requires a critical examination of the knowledge of our water resources, ecosystems, water planning and policies for sharing (including allocation for the environment). Professionals are increasingly held accountable in the court of public opinion for providing evidence based decisions, innovative solutions and an ability to clearly communicate with the community.

On Friday 9 September 2016 at the Hilton Hotel in Darwin, the Australian Water Association will present the 27th Water in the Bush (WITB) Conference, a somewhat unique event on the conference calendar. Although the cohort of water professionals in the Northern Territory is relatively small, WITB always brings together a very broad mix of 100-130 people across various disciplines to debate and challenge ideas. Most importantly, WITB is about transferring knowledge and innovative ideas into practice, while building relationships with peers who have diverse interests

In 2016, the community debate and political focus in the Northern Territory has been on energy, water and food, and a special Energy-Water-Food Symposium discussing the strategic issues, including baseline knowledge of groundwater in the Beetaloo Sub-basin and soil and water assessments will be held at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory in Darwin on Thursday 8 September.

Over the one and a half days of the Energy-Water-Food Symposium and WITB, there will be 12 interstate and 12 Territory presenters to provide very different perspectives. Groundwater is centre stage in Central and Northern Australia where evaporation rates are higher than the rainfall, and the flow of river systems depends upon groundwater discharge. With 6 to 8 months between monsoonal activity, and hopefully relieving rainfalls, over Northern Australia, the economy of the north is highly dependent on groundwater. With the exception of Darwin and Katherine, over 90% of water for public water supplies is sourced from groundwater systems. The opportunity for new irrigated agriculture will depend on the sustainable use of groundwater, and in some cases is likely to involve managed aquifer recharge (or MAR) to increase the groundwater stored from monsoonal rains, and provide natural treatment systems and a relatively low energy solution. In addition, MAR can be used to replenish groundwater systems, which feed dependant ecosystems such as the Top End’s rivers, water holes and lagoons.

Leading internationally recognised groundwater experts, including Dr Ken Lawrie, Director of Groundwater Science Innovation, Geoscience Australia; Dr Peter Stone, Research Director, CSIRO Land & Water; Prof Craig Simmons, Director of National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training; and, Dr Richard Evans, Principal Hydrogeologist of Jacobs, are just a few of the icons of the groundwater profession who will stimulate the debate.

Visit the AWA website for more information on the program.

 

Main mage: Groundwater dependant ecosystem in the Top End.

Inset image: Darryl Day FIEAust, Executive Director Water Research, Department of Mines and Energy.