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Water scarcity represents one of the most pressing environmental and socioeconomic challenges facing Australia today. As the world’s driest inhabited continent, Australia confronts unique water management challenges that affect millions of people, agricultural productivity, industrial operations, and the health of vital ecosystems. The arid and semi-arid regions that dominate much of the Australian landscape are particularly vulnerable to water stress, creating complex resource distribution challenges that require innovative solutions and coordinated policy responses.
Understanding the multifaceted nature of water scarcity in Australia’s arid regions is essential for developing effective management strategies that balance competing demands from agriculture, urban populations, industry, and environmental conservation. This article explores the causes, impacts, and potential solutions to water scarcity challenges across Australia’s driest regions, examining both the natural factors and human activities that contribute to this ongoing crisis.
The Geographic and Climatic Context of Australia’s Arid Regions
Straddling the Tropic of Capricorn, Australia’s climate ranges from a tropical north to a temperate south but the vast bulk of its three million square miles is hot and dry. The continent’s interior, commonly known as the Outback, consists predominantly of semi-arid bushland and desert environments where temperatures can soar above 50°C and it might not rain for years.
The distribution of rainfall across Australia is highly uneven. While most of Australia receives as little as 600mm of rain each year, half the country gets less than 300mm. Australia’s average annual rainfall is around 470mm a year, well below the global average, and predictions linked to climate change suggest this could halve again in coming decades. This extreme aridity creates fundamental challenges for water resource management and distribution.
Natural Factors Contributing to Aridity
Australia’s exceptional dryness results from a unique combination of geographic and atmospheric factors. Cold ocean currents off the west coast means there is little evaporation to form rainclouds, while the Great Dividing Range that runs down Australia’s east coast prevents rain from penetrating far inland. Additionally, there are few mountains to force air upwards where it can cool into rain, and the region is dominated by the subtropical high-pressure belt that both warms and dries the air.
The continent is also highly susceptible to climate variability patterns. The continent is extremely susceptible to the El Niño–Southern Oscillation, a heating or cooling of the Pacific Ocean that can bring prolonged periods of high temperatures and drought. Australia’s climate is highly variable, with lower average rainfall and higher rainfall variability than most other nations. As a result, Australian agriculture is subject to more climate related risk than almost any other country in the world.
Primary Causes of Water Scarcity in Australia’s Arid Regions
Climate Change and Rising Temperatures
Climate change has emerged as a significant driver of intensifying water scarcity across Australia. Australia’s average temperature has risen by 1.47°C since 1910. This warming intensifies evaporation rates, reducing water availability and heightening drought risks. The temperature increase has cascading effects on water availability, accelerating the loss of moisture from soils, vegetation, and surface water bodies.
Water scarcity is a persistent issue in Australia given the relatively dry and variable climate. The emergence of climate change has exacerbated this issue. The warming trend contributes to more frequent and severe drought conditions, particularly in southern regions of the continent.
Declining Rainfall Patterns
Long-term rainfall trends reveal concerning patterns across much of Australia. There has been a shift towards drier conditions across southern Australia, especially for the cool season months from April to October. Despite occasional wetter seasons in some areas, southern Australia has recorded below-average April–October rainfall (area-averaged) in 26 of the 32 years from 1994 to 2025.
Regional variations in rainfall decline are particularly pronounced in certain areas. The drying trend is particularly strong between May to July over southwest Western Australia, with rainfall since 1970 around 20 per cent less than the average from 1900 to 1969. Since 1999, this reduction has increased to around 26 per cent. Similarly, for the southeast of the continent, April to October rainfall for the period 1999 to 2018 has decreased by around 11 per cent when compared to the 1900 to 1998 period.
The decline in southern Australia’s cool season rainfall is linked to rising surface pressure and shifts in large-scale weather patterns, with more high-pressure systems and fewer rain-producing lows and cold fronts. These atmospheric changes represent a fundamental shift in the climate system affecting Australia’s water resources.
Increased Evaporation Rates
Higher temperatures directly increase evaporation rates, compounding the effects of reduced rainfall. This creates a double impact on water availability: less water enters the system through precipitation while more water exits through evaporation. The combination of these factors significantly reduces the amount of water available for human use and ecosystem support.
Evaporation affects not only surface water bodies but also soil moisture levels, which are critical for agriculture and natural vegetation. The increased evaporative demand means that even when rainfall does occur, less water remains available for recharge of groundwater systems or maintenance of streamflow.
Human-Induced Factors
Human activity has made matters worse. Several human activities have intensified water scarcity challenges in Australia’s arid regions. Widespread deforestation has intensified flooding while also increasing the salinity of the soil so that the water flowing through it becomes brackish—unchecked this could damage millions of hectares of agricultural land.
The overgrazing of sheep and cattle, key economic exports, has been a major factor in desertification with vegetation loss leading to a loss of usable water. Land degradation from overgrazing reduces the land’s capacity to absorb and retain water, increasing runoff and reducing groundwater recharge.
Historical water management practices have also contributed to current challenges. Until recently farmers were allowed to draw unchecked amounts of water from rivers causing silting, salination, and fierce disputes between competing users. Similarly, groundwater sources such as aquifers have been used up faster than they can be naturally replenished, especially in the arid interior, so that they are now having to be actively refilled with treated wastewater.
Major Drought Events and Their Characteristics
The Millennium Drought
One of the most significant drought events in recent Australian history was the Millennium Drought. From 1996 to 2010 the Millennium Drought scorched much of southern Australia. Its effects were acutely felt in the agricultural heartland of the Murray-Darling basin and in the densely populated southeast and southwest.
The Millennium Drought had severe consequences for agricultural production and water allocation. Extensive over-extraction forced government intervention during the Millennium Drought with severe water restrictions that saw cotton production quartered, meat production halved, and rice farming stopped almost entirely. During the Millennium Drought (1997–2009), water allocations for farmers were slashed by up to 80%, leading to significant financial losses.
Recent Drought Conditions
Much of Australia has been in severe drought since at least 2017. The 2017-2019 period, known as the Tinderbox Drought, preceded the catastrophic Black Summer bushfires and demonstrated the interconnected nature of water scarcity and fire risk.
Recent drought conditions have been particularly severe in key agricultural regions. In 2018, rainfall for the year was very low over the southeastern quarter of the Australian mainland, with much of the region experiencing totals in the lowest 10% of historical observations. The state of New South Wales was declared to be 100% in drought by August 2018, remaining at 98.6% into May 2019; by May 2019 65.2% of Queensland was also declared to be in drought.
The Murray-Darling Basin: A Critical Case Study
The Murray-Darling Basin represents Australia’s most important agricultural region and serves as a microcosm of the nation’s water scarcity challenges. Half of Australia’s agricultural profits comes from irrigated farming which is concentrated in the Murray-Darling Basin. The Murray–Darling Basin is one of Australia’s major food producing areas (accounting for about 40% of Australia’s gross value of agricultural production).
The basin has experienced significant water stress in recent decades. On one-to-two-year timeframes to the end of March 2019, rainfall deficiencies in the Murray–Darling Basin, Australia’s most extensive river system, were the third lowest on record, behind similar length timeframes between 1901 and 1903, and between 1918 and 1920.
Regions like the Murray-Darling Basin now experience longer dry periods, directly contributing to water scarcity in Australia. Key river systems such as the Darling River often cease to flow in dry seasons, creating severe challenges for communities and ecosystems dependent on these water sources.
The basin has been subject to extensive government intervention and regulation. State and federal governments are pushing massive investments, such as the $13 billion Murray-Darling Basin Plan, to rebalance water use between the environment, agriculture, and towns. A key focus of ABARES water research is the analysis of water markets in the southern Murray–Darling Basin. ABARES undertakes modelling on water policy issues, especially in regards to the implementation and effects of the Murray–Darling Basin Plan.
Impacts on Agricultural Production and Food Security
Water Consumption in Agriculture
Water is a valuable commodity particularly within agriculture, which accounts for around three quarters of total use. Agriculture accounts for approximately 70% of Australia’s total water use. In regions like the Murray-Darling Basin, irrigated crops such as cotton and rice require immense water inputs, contributing heavily to water scarcity in Australia.
The concentration of water use in agriculture creates significant challenges during drought periods. Irrigated agriculture is particularly vulnerable to water allocation reductions, as crops require consistent water supplies throughout growing seasons. The competition for limited water resources between agricultural users, urban populations, and environmental needs creates ongoing tensions in water management policy.
Production Impacts and Economic Consequences
Australia is a major food exporting country. Recent droughts reduced dryland farming production and the volume of water allocated to irrigated agriculture, with a resulting decline in aggregate agricultural production and exports. The economic impacts of water scarcity extend beyond individual farms to affect regional economies and global food markets.
Like many other arid countries and regions in the world, Australia’s agricultural production has been threatened by water shortages, with potentially serious economic and environmental consequences. Australia is a major food producer, but recent drought has reduced its agricultural and food production.
Water allocation reductions during drought periods can force difficult decisions about crop selection and land use. Reductions in water allocations during drought years can push farmers to the brink of collapse. In 2020, similar reductions affected farmers in northern Victoria, forcing some to abandon high-water crops entirely.
Adaptation Strategies in Agriculture
This has led to much tighter regulations and ongoing investment in more efficient irrigation schemes. Farmers are increasingly adopting water-efficient technologies and practices to maximize productivity with limited water resources.
As climate pressures mount, farmers are seeking drought-tolerant crops and precision irrigation systems. These adaptations represent important steps toward building resilience in agricultural systems, though they require significant investment and technical expertise.
Industrial Water Use and Mining Operations
Although industry only uses 16% of Australia’s water footprint, water-heavy industries such as mining are on the rise, especially in the arid interior. The expansion of mining operations in water-scarce regions creates additional pressure on limited water resources and can generate conflicts with other water users.
Mining operations often require substantial water volumes for mineral processing, dust suppression, and other operational needs. In arid regions where water is already scarce, the allocation of water to mining can be controversial, particularly when it competes with agricultural or community water needs.
The growth of water-intensive industries in arid regions necessitates careful water management planning and may require innovative approaches such as water recycling, use of lower-quality water sources, or development of less water-intensive processing technologies.
Urban Water Supply Challenges
Major City Water Storage Levels
Australia’s major cities face ongoing challenges in maintaining adequate water supplies. At the end of February, surface water storages supplying most capital cities were close to or above 70% of accessible capacity, except for Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. Storages for these cities are relatively low, following extended periods of severe rainfall deficiencies reducing surface water inflows into regional storages.
Perth faces particularly acute water supply challenges. Perth’s surface water storages were at 39.2% of capacity at the end of February, a decrease of 1.8% from the previous month, and 1.4% lower than at the same time last year. The two largest storages supplying Perth remained below 35% capacity, with South Dandalup at 7.4% and Serpentine at 31.5%.
The long-term decline in surface water inflows, driven by underlying climate change, means Perth now relies heavily on desalination and groundwater to meet urban water demand. This shift toward alternative water sources represents a fundamental change in urban water supply strategies.
Growing Urban Populations
For now, Australia may have sufficient freshwater to meet its needs but the unreliability of its rainfall, the uncertainty of climate change, and the difficulties of supplying fast-growing cities and isolated rural communities poses problems. Urban population growth increases water demand at the same time that climate change is reducing water availability, creating a challenging supply-demand imbalance.
Fast-growing cities in arid or semi-arid regions face particular challenges in securing long-term water supplies. The need to balance urban water demands with agricultural and environmental water needs requires sophisticated planning and investment in diverse water supply sources.
Ecological and Environmental Impacts
Ecosystem Degradation
Water scarcity has severe consequences for natural ecosystems throughout Australia’s arid regions. Reduced water availability affects wetlands, rivers, and terrestrial ecosystems that depend on consistent water supplies. Water is also of value to other industries, households and increasingly environmental agencies, reflecting growing recognition of the importance of environmental water allocations.
River systems and wetlands that historically supported diverse ecosystems have experienced significant degradation due to reduced water flows. The loss of habitat and water sources leads to declines in biodiversity, with impacts on fish populations, waterbirds, and other species dependent on aquatic and riparian environments.
Soil Salinity and Land Degradation
Water scarcity interacts with other environmental challenges to create compound impacts. Soil salinity, exacerbated by reduced water flows and altered land use patterns, threatens agricultural productivity and ecosystem health. The combination of drought, high evaporation rates, and historical land clearing has increased salinity problems across many regions.
Land degradation from water scarcity reduces the productive capacity of landscapes and can create feedback loops that further reduce water availability. Vegetation loss increases erosion and reduces the land’s capacity to capture and retain water, while also contributing to increased dust storms and air quality problems during dry periods.
Water Resource Management Strategies and Solutions
Water Markets and Allocation Systems
Australia has a number of well-developed water markets, where water rights are freely traded between end users. Water markets allow Australia’s scarce water resources to be efficiently allocated between competing uses in response to fluctuations in supply and demand.
Water trading systems enable water to flow to its highest-value uses, providing flexibility in how water resources are allocated across different sectors and users. These market mechanisms have become increasingly important tools for managing water scarcity, particularly during drought periods when water availability is severely constrained.
However, water markets also raise equity concerns and require careful regulation to ensure that environmental and community water needs are protected alongside economic considerations. The design and operation of water markets continue to evolve as policymakers seek to balance efficiency with other social and environmental objectives.
Desalination Technology
Desalination has emerged as a critical component of urban water supply strategies, particularly for coastal cities facing declining rainfall and surface water availability. Perth’s experience demonstrates the growing importance of desalination in Australia’s water supply portfolio, with the city now heavily reliant on desalinated water to supplement declining surface water supplies.
Major Australian cities have invested billions of dollars in desalination infrastructure over the past two decades. These facilities provide climate-independent water sources that can help buffer cities against drought impacts. However, desalination is energy-intensive and expensive, raising questions about long-term sustainability and affordability.
Advances in desalination technology continue to improve efficiency and reduce costs, making this option increasingly viable for addressing urban water scarcity. The integration of renewable energy sources with desalination facilities can help address concerns about the carbon footprint of desalinated water production.
Water Recycling and Reuse
Water recycling represents another important strategy for augmenting water supplies in water-scarce regions. Treated wastewater can be used for various purposes including agricultural irrigation, industrial processes, and in some cases, indirect potable reuse through managed aquifer recharge.
The expansion of water recycling programs requires investment in treatment infrastructure and public acceptance of recycled water use. Education and engagement efforts have been important in building community support for water recycling initiatives, particularly for applications that involve human consumption.
Agricultural use of recycled water offers significant potential for reducing pressure on freshwater resources while providing reliable water supplies for irrigation. Industrial water recycling can similarly reduce freshwater demands while improving the sustainability of industrial operations.
Infrastructure Improvements and Efficiency Measures
Improving water infrastructure efficiency is essential for maximizing the value obtained from limited water resources. This includes reducing water losses from distribution systems, upgrading irrigation infrastructure to minimize waste, and implementing smart water management technologies.
Urban water utilities have invested heavily in reducing water losses from aging pipe networks and improving system efficiency. These investments help ensure that more of the water captured and treated actually reaches end users rather than being lost to leaks and system inefficiencies.
In agriculture, the shift toward more efficient irrigation technologies such as drip irrigation and precision agriculture techniques can significantly reduce water consumption while maintaining or improving crop yields. Government programs that support adoption of water-efficient technologies have been important in driving these improvements.
Demand Management and Conservation
Managing water demand through conservation measures and behavioral change represents a cost-effective approach to addressing water scarcity. Water restrictions during drought periods have proven effective in reducing urban water consumption, though they can be politically challenging to implement and maintain.
Long-term water conservation requires sustained behavior change supported by appropriate pricing signals, education programs, and regulatory frameworks. Water-efficient appliances, landscaping practices, and building standards all contribute to reducing overall water demand.
The development of a water conservation culture, where efficient water use is valued and practiced routinely rather than only during crisis periods, is essential for long-term water security in arid regions.
Integrated Water Resource Management
Effective water management in arid regions requires integrated approaches that consider all aspects of the water cycle and all competing demands for water resources. This includes coordination across different levels of government, integration of surface water and groundwater management, and consideration of both water quantity and quality issues.
Integrated water resource management frameworks help ensure that decisions about water allocation and use consider long-term sustainability, environmental protection, and social equity alongside economic efficiency. These frameworks are particularly important in regions where water resources cross jurisdictional boundaries and serve multiple competing uses.
Climate Change Projections and Future Challenges
Projected Changes in Water Availability
Australia’s national science research agency, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), states that on account of projected future climate change, hot days will become more frequent and hotter (very high confidence), extreme rainfall events will become more intense (high confidence), and the time in drought is projected to increase over southern Australia (high confidence).
Climate models project a continuing decline in rainfall over southern Australia over the next century. Dry conditions like those seen in southeast Australia in 2006, for example, are projected to become more frequent under even low global warming targets associated with the Paris Agreement.
Long-term projections indicate significant challenges ahead for water resource management. The CSIRO warns that water inflows into major dams could decline by up to 40% by 2050 if greenhouse gas emissions continue at current levels. The long-term projections indicate that climate-driven changes will play a central role in amplifying water scarcity in Australia.
Uncertainty and Variability
The role of climate change in extended drought periods is difficult to discern from background climate variability. This is particularly true in Australia, which has a much more variable climate than many other parts of the world. Future projections of drought are also difficult to constrain, as they vary across Australia and depend on the measure of drought being used.
The high natural variability of Australia’s climate makes it challenging to predict specific future conditions with precision. However, the overall trend toward warmer temperatures and reduced rainfall in southern regions is clear, even if the timing and magnitude of specific drought events remain uncertain.
Compound Extreme Events
Compound extreme events can also describe the confluence of climate and weather extremes of varying timescales, such as a drought period intersecting with a prolonged heatwave, or record high daily temperatures—an occurrence which typically results in large impacts on agriculture, human health, fire weather and infrastructure.
The interaction between drought, heat, and other extreme events creates particularly severe impacts. The 2017-2019 Tinderbox Drought and subsequent Black Summer bushfires demonstrated how water scarcity can contribute to catastrophic fire conditions, with devastating consequences for communities and ecosystems.
Indigenous Water Knowledge and Management
Indigenous communities, who have sustainably managed water for millennia, are now being invited to share traditional wisdom. Organizations like AIATSIS are advocating for the integration of Indigenous knowledge in national water policy.
Indigenous Australians have developed sophisticated understanding of water systems and sustainable water management practices over tens of thousands of years. This traditional ecological knowledge offers valuable insights for contemporary water management, particularly regarding adaptation to variable water availability and sustainable use of limited resources.
Incorporating Indigenous perspectives into water management policy and practice represents both a matter of justice and recognition, and a practical opportunity to draw on deep knowledge of Australian landscapes and water systems. Collaborative approaches that respect Indigenous rights and knowledge can enhance the effectiveness and cultural appropriateness of water management strategies.
Policy and Governance Frameworks
National and State Water Policies
Water management in Australia involves complex interactions between federal, state, and local governments. The constitutional framework gives states primary responsibility for water management, while the federal government plays important roles in interstate water issues, environmental protection, and national policy coordination.
Major policy initiatives such as the Murray-Darling Basin Plan represent attempts to coordinate water management across jurisdictional boundaries and balance competing demands for water resources. These initiatives face ongoing challenges in implementation and require sustained political commitment and adequate funding.
Regulatory Frameworks and Compliance
Effective water management requires robust regulatory frameworks that ensure compliance with water allocation rules, protect environmental flows, and prevent over-extraction of water resources. Monitoring and enforcement systems are essential for maintaining the integrity of water management regimes.
The evolution of water regulation in Australia has moved toward more sophisticated approaches that account for environmental water needs, recognize the connectivity between surface water and groundwater, and provide flexibility to adapt to changing conditions. However, challenges remain in ensuring effective compliance and addressing illegal water extraction.
Community Impacts and Social Dimensions
Rural and Remote Communities
Water scarcity has profound impacts on rural and remote communities throughout Australia’s arid regions. These communities often face particular challenges in accessing reliable water supplies due to their distance from major infrastructure and their dependence on local water sources that may be severely affected by drought.
The social and economic impacts of water scarcity on rural communities extend beyond direct water supply issues to affect agricultural livelihoods, community viability, and mental health. Prolonged drought can lead to farm failures, population decline, and erosion of community services and infrastructure.
Water Security and Equity
Ensuring equitable access to water resources is a fundamental challenge in water-scarce regions. Different communities and user groups have varying levels of access to water and different capacities to adapt to water scarcity, raising important questions about fairness and justice in water allocation.
Water pricing and allocation mechanisms need to balance efficiency objectives with equity considerations, ensuring that disadvantaged communities and essential uses are protected even during severe water shortages. The design of water markets and allocation systems has significant implications for distributional outcomes.
Innovation and Emerging Technologies
Advanced Monitoring and Data Systems
Technological advances in water monitoring and data management are improving the capacity to manage water resources effectively. Remote sensing technologies, real-time monitoring systems, and advanced data analytics enable more precise tracking of water availability and use.
A new method for estimating irrigation water use in the agriculture industry uses a satellite-derived evapotranspiration model developed by CSIRO, demonstrating how technological innovation can enhance water management capabilities.
Water-Efficient Technologies
Ongoing innovation in water-efficient technologies offers potential for reducing water consumption across all sectors. In agriculture, precision irrigation systems, soil moisture sensors, and drought-tolerant crop varieties can significantly improve water productivity. In urban settings, water-efficient appliances, smart irrigation controllers, and leak detection systems contribute to water conservation.
The development and adoption of water-efficient technologies require continued research and development investment, supportive policy frameworks, and mechanisms to facilitate technology transfer and adoption, particularly among smaller users who may face barriers to accessing new technologies.
International Context and Lessons
Australia’s experience with water scarcity in arid regions offers lessons for other countries facing similar challenges. The development of sophisticated water markets, investment in alternative water sources such as desalination, and adaptive management approaches provide models that may be applicable in other contexts.
At the same time, Australia can learn from international experiences in water management, including approaches to integrated water resource management, community-based water governance, and innovative technologies for water conservation and supply augmentation.
Global climate change means that water scarcity challenges are intensifying in many regions around the world. International cooperation in research, technology development, and policy innovation can help advance solutions to shared water security challenges.
Building Resilience for the Future
Diversification of Water Sources
Building resilience to water scarcity requires diversification of water sources to reduce dependence on rainfall-dependent supplies. This includes developing alternative sources such as desalination, water recycling, and managed aquifer recharge, while also improving the efficiency of existing water use.
Portfolio approaches to water supply that combine multiple sources can provide greater security against drought and climate variability. However, diversification requires significant investment and careful planning to ensure that different supply sources are developed in a coordinated and cost-effective manner.
Adaptive Management Approaches
Given the uncertainty surrounding future climate conditions and water availability, adaptive management approaches that can respond flexibly to changing conditions are essential. This includes building institutional capacity for adaptive decision-making, maintaining diverse management options, and regularly reviewing and updating water management strategies based on new information.
Scenario planning and stress-testing of water supply systems against a range of possible future conditions can help identify vulnerabilities and inform investment priorities. Building adaptive capacity requires not only technical capabilities but also institutional flexibility and stakeholder engagement.
Long-Term Planning and Investment
Addressing water scarcity challenges requires sustained long-term planning and investment. Water infrastructure has long lead times and extended operational lifespans, making it essential to plan for future conditions rather than simply responding to current needs.
Investment in water infrastructure, technology, and management systems needs to be sustained over time and protected from short-term political pressures. This requires strong governance frameworks, adequate funding mechanisms, and broad community support for water security investments.
Conclusion: Navigating an Uncertain Water Future
Water scarcity and resource distribution challenges in Australia’s arid regions represent complex, interconnected problems that require comprehensive, sustained responses. The combination of natural aridity, climate change impacts, and competing demands for limited water resources creates ongoing challenges for water management across the continent.
Effective responses to water scarcity require integration of multiple strategies including demand management, supply augmentation, improved efficiency, market mechanisms, and environmental protection. No single solution is sufficient; rather, a portfolio of approaches adapted to local conditions and needs is necessary.
The experience of recent decades, including severe droughts and their impacts, has driven significant innovation in water management policy and practice in Australia. Water markets, desalination, water recycling, and improved irrigation efficiency all represent important advances. However, projected climate changes indicate that further adaptation will be necessary.
Building water security for Australia’s arid regions requires sustained commitment to investment in infrastructure and technology, continued policy innovation, effective governance and regulation, and engagement of communities in water management decisions. It also requires recognition of the value of water for environmental and cultural purposes alongside economic uses.
The integration of Indigenous water knowledge, advancement of water-efficient technologies, and development of adaptive management approaches offer pathways toward greater water security. However, success will require sustained effort, adequate resources, and willingness to make difficult decisions about water allocation and use.
As climate change continues to intensify water scarcity challenges, the importance of effective water management will only increase. Australia’s experience in managing water scarcity in arid regions provides valuable lessons while also highlighting the ongoing challenges that lie ahead. Building resilience to water scarcity is not a one-time achievement but an ongoing process of adaptation, innovation, and commitment to sustainable water management.
For more information on water management in Australia, visit the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences and the Bureau of Meteorology’s drought information. Additional resources on climate change impacts can be found at CSIRO’s climate change research.