It’s called water banking.
Dr Peter Reeve from the One Basin Co-operative Research Centre described the idea at the recent Murray Darling Association conference held in Shepparton.
Dr Reeve told the delegates there are some parts of the Murray-Darling Basin where aquifers have the capacity to store water that could be used in times of high demand, such as drought.
“This is an alternative water management strategy to hold water in the landscape for use at a future time,” he said.
In good years the reservoir could be built up, and in drier years it could be drawn down, like a bank account.
How can you build a portfolio of water sources to enhance security of supply?
Brackish ground water is one possible source.
“There is about 80,000 Gl of brackish ground water, in the Murray-Darling Basin, with salinity between fresh water and sea water. That could be treated with using desalination technology,” Dr Reeve said.
”The real challenge in an agricultural context is how do you do that in an economically feasible way.“
Dr Reeve said he was working with one research project partner in the Riverland in South Australia who was an almond grower.
“There are a number of challenges in treating desalinated water and dealing with the waste,” Dr Reeve said.
The idea is already in use at various sites in Australia. CSIRO scientists have led research at demonstration projects across the country.
They had a major role in the development of the national guidelines for aquifer recharge.
These guidelines follow a risk management framework and give specific guidance on managing the health risks and the environmental risks associated with recharging aquifers with all sources of water, including recycled water for a range of uses.
