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Urban growth is leading to more intense droughts for most of the world’s cities
The growth of cities worldwide is contributing to more intense drought conditions in many cities, including Sydney, a new Chinese study has found. This is adding to urban heat and …
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There are ‘forever chemicals’ in our drinking water. Should standards change?
Today’s news coverage reports potentially unsafe levels of “forever chemicals” detected in drinking water supplies around Australia. These include human-made chemicals: perfluorooctane sulfonate (known as PFOS) and perflurooctanic acid (PFOA). They are classed under the broader category of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS chemicals. The contaminants found in our drinking water are the same […]
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It’s hot, and your local river looks enticing. But is too germy for swimming?
Co-written by Nicky Morrison.
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Drinking water can be a dangerous cocktail for people in flood areas
Parts of south east Queensland and northern NSW have been experiencing what has been called a “rain bomb”. Despite the heavy falls, south eastern Queenslanders in Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton Bay and the Lockyer Valley have been asked to conserve drinking water. Water authorities explained extreme weather and heavy rain forced the closure of two […]
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Sydney’s dams may be almost full – but don’t relax, because drought will come again
Dams serving capital cities such as Canberra, Hobart and Sydney are near full after two years of widespread rainfall. But these wet conditions won’t last. Under climate change, droughts in Australia will become more frequent and severe. Our drinking water supplies, and water crucial for irrigation and the environment, will dwindle again. Sydney, Australia’s most […]
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Victoria’s wild storms show how easily disasters can threaten our water supply
Ian Wright, Western Sydney University The wild storms that recently raged across eastern Victoria caused major property and environmental damage, and loss of lives. They’ve also triggered serious water contamination incidents. Yarra Valley Water issued an urgent health warning to not to drink tap water — not even if it’s boiled — in three affected […]
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I’ve always wondered: can I flush cat poo down the toilet?
Ian Wright, Western Sydney University This is an article from I’ve Always Wondered, a series where readers send in questions they’d like an expert to answer. Send your question to alwayswondered@theconversation.edu.au Why can’t I flush cat poo down the toilet? Diane, Sydney When I was a teenager I owned a large dog, a German Shepherd. […]
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Please, don’t look away. The NSW flood recovery will take years and people still need our help
Ian Wright, Western Sydney University Extreme flooding in New South Wales in March triggered a two-week frenzy of media interest. But while the camera crews and journalists have since moved on, communities still face a long recovery. Many flood-ravaged homes have not yet been repaired and others are infested with mould. Farmers are struggling to […]
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A city-by-city guide to how water supplies fared in Australia’s summer of extremes
Co-written by Jason Reynolds,
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Heavy rains are great news for Sydney’s dams, but they come with a big caveat
Co-written by Jason Reynolds.
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A tale of 2 rivers: is it safer to swim in the Yarra in Victoria, or the Nepean in NSW?
This article is co-written by Jason Reynolds, Katherine Morrison and Michelle Ryan.
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How drought is affecting water supply in Australia’s capital cities
Jason Reynolds.
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Regardless of what the Federal Court says, you shouldn’t put ‘flushable’ wipes down the loo
On Friday the Australian Federal Court found in favour of Kimberly-Clark’s “flushable wipes” in a legal action brought by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). There was insufficient evidence to convince Justice Gleeson that Kimberly-Clark’s wipes were primarily responsible for significant blockages and were therefore unsuitable for flushing down the toilet. This was a […]
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Australia’s pristine beaches have a poo problem
This article was co-written by Andrew Fischer, Boyd Dirk Blackwell, Qurratu A'yunin Rohmana and Simon Toze.
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Why Sydney residents use 30% more water per day than Melburnians
This week Melbourne’s water storage dropped below 50%, a sign of the prolonged and deepening drought gripping eastern Australia. Sydney is only marginally better off, at 53.8% of full storage. Along with many regional towns across southeastern Australia, the two largest capital city water supplies are steadily shrinking. But while Melbourne’s water levels are lower, […]
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When water is scarce, we can’t afford to neglect the alternatives to desalination
This is the second of two articles looking at the increasing reliance of Australian cities on desalination plants to supply drinking water, with less emphasis on the alternatives of water recycling and demand management. So what is the best way forward to achieve urban water security? This article is co-written by Jason Reynolds.
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Cities turn to desalination for water security, but at what cost?
This is the first of two articles looking at the increasing reliance of Australian cities on desalination to supply drinking water, with less emphasis on alternatives such as recycling and demand management. So what is the best way forward to achieve urban water security? This article is co-written by Jason Reynolds.
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