understanding water systems in adelaide | biocity studio

What are the water systems in Adelaide?

• Harvested water- Reservoirs• Murray Water accessed via Mannum

pipeline• Stormwater• Groundwater• Wastewater• Localised systems

Background-the water cycle

Evaporation-Condensation-PrecipitationImage: Google image search for ‘water cycle’

The World’sWater

History

http://www.catalog.slsa.sa.gov.au 1920 Torrens River http://www.catalog.slsa.sa.gov.au 1980 Torrens River

Where is it?Adelaide Metropolitan area comprises of four major catchment areas

•Northern Adelaide and Barossa•Torrens•Patawalonga•Onkaparinga

Reservoirs of Metropolitan Adelaide

www.sawater.gov.au

Murray Reliance

SouthAustralia’s shareof the Murray

Water Use

Water Use

Image: Fleming. NS, Sustainability and Water Resource Management for the Northern Adelaide Plains, South Australia , 1999

How much water does it take to produce...

Image: www.advertiser.com.au accessed from factiva

Adelaide Groundwater

Image: Hale, AE Community Management of Water Resources in the Southern Region, Adelaide, 1997

Groundwater depletionBenefits:•Less Evaporation•Less required infrastructure

Threats:•Salinity•Depletion•Contamination

Image: Hale, AE Community Management of Water Resources in the Southern Region, Adelaide, 1997

Adelaide surface waterAdelaide StormwaterOn average, the Adelaide metropolitan area generates around 86 gigalitres of stormwater per year.

Stormwater is managed by Local Councils with some State Government input Much of this is discharged to the sea, with less than 10% currently being re-used.

Urban infill and associated increased density •Increases run off •Poses new problems when peak events occur

Images www.sawater.gov.au

ASR/Stormwater Management

Image:Brompton ASR siteFrom Water proofing Adelaide document

Wastewater in Adelaide There are four major and two smaller

wastewater treatment plants in the Adelaide metropolitan area

• Bolivar• Christies Beach• Glenelg• Port Adelaide• Aldinga• Heathfield• Owned and operated by SA Water

under contract by United Water.Bolivar www.sawater.gov.au

A localised approach-harvesting and treating water on site• Water Tanks• STED systems/Grey water reuse• Stormwater

Need:• 97% of our city runoff and 86% of effluent

water is unproductive.

Thankyou