Bilateral Pairing Task: Thirsty or Flooded Analysis

Environment   Oct 17, 2016 by Jordan Rose PSHS

Bilateral Pairing Task

How does the assigned BlueYouth theme relate to your country?

By Jordan Rose and Dylan Fields (Pimlico State High School)

Hydrological systems refer to the transfer, movement and general interaction of water within an environment. These systems include man-made irrigation systems such as sewerage, as well as natural deposits or supplies such as creeks. Here in Australia, the necessity of water varies greatly depending on location, time of year and usage. For such a drastically changing country, it is not uncommon to find certain regions at risk of flash flooding, whereas other areas have implemented water restrictions or are forming new infrastructure in order to ensure the preservation of the limited water supply. As recently as September, 2016, Australia was victim to an extreme storm that ravaged the south in a few short days. In the Adelaide hills, 800 SES calls were recorded overnight with 80 properties damaged. Uraidla recorded 100mm of rain, and several water reservoirs exceeded their storage limits. On top of water damage, several thousand citizens were left without power for days and the storm was comparative to a tropical cyclone. In contrast, one can take a look at Townsville, QLD. The entire region has recently endured one of the driest periods on record, with level 3 water restrictions being enforced to limit water usage; with the potential of level 4 restrictions to follow. This involves the reduction of household water usage, the disability of automatic irrigation systems and an "evens and odds" system with time constraints to prevent waste. These are just two examples of how Australia suffers from terrible extremes of climate, causing a tremendous variation in how we view our water. This shows the requirement for a reconsideration of hydrological systems to better suit the environment, economy and citizens of our country.

How does it relate to your country pairing?

Our bilateral pairing is India, which shares a number of similarities when it comes to hydrological systems. Although having a less-advanced irrigation system, India shares a huge variation in climate and there are several regions that have suffered from both drought and excess water levels. This is visible through issues similar to Australia, such as India's recent floods caused by monsoonal rains. This precipitation caused rivers and deposits to burst their banks, submerging rivers, washing away crops, decimating roads and disrupting power/phone lines. Additionally, at least 300 people were left dead with another 6 million people adversely affected. Once again this country has a contrast to this, as India is also presently suffering from severe drought. Out of the 36 states/territories of the country, 19 are experiencing a water deficit of at least 50%, and a further 4 areas have deficits of 60-90%. Water levels are at their lowest point in over a decade, and aquifers are experiencing extreme supply drops (these supply 85% of the country's drinking water). On top of this, the destruction of agriculture has left thousands in need of employment or means of survival, and the drop in water levels across the country have dramatically reduced the level of hydropower production. "Water scarcity and blinding heat are causing havoc in the farm and energy sectors, the two largest users of water in India," (Circle of Blue, 2016) Through this destructive processes it is clear the India, in spite of its distance and difference from Australia, presently suffers at a similar level to Australia in terms of hydrology and its influence.

What is the current state of this BlueYouth theme?

In relation to the BlueYouth theme (thirsty or flooded), Australia is presently experiencing a combination of the two. Throughout the last decade, the introduction of unsustainable processes combined with a growing society have forced Australia into a frequent equilibrium of devastating natural flooding and straining dry spells (84% Queensland, Australia is currently in drought).

In what direction does this theme seem to be evolving in your country and how does this compare with how you would like it to evolve?

The Australian government as of right now appears to take minimal steps to sustain water levels. This can be seen through the local enforcement of things like water restrictions as previously mentioned. Of course, there are numerous more economically and environmentally viable solutions that could be implemented that would ensure Australia's water security is sustained. These include, but are not limited to (research).

It is fundamental to the fluent continuity of Australia that those who are in charge understand the importance of balancing economic success with environmental protection. Furthermore, there is an obvious need for our approach to hydrological systems to evolve in order to maintain an equal state of living across our country.

"As a young person who lives in an area with water restrictions, I would like to see the local government take more steps to ensure a more sustainable and equal distribution of water across our region. I can understand the difficulty of implementing new technologies, however steps as simple as better irrigation, investment in new purification technology (research) and clearer cut and enforced restrictions could greatly reduce the impact we have on our environment." - Jordan Rose, 2016

"Townsville is currently experiencing a considered ‘drought’ period, which explains the implementation of level three water restrictions to reduce our water usage. However, are these water restrictions actually lowering our water usage? Despite having fines in place for those who don’t follow the restrictions, not everyone in Townsville abides by these rules. Therefore, it’s important that the local government implement a variety of strategies to reduce the use and consumption of water across the city.By doing this, we could greatly reduce our water usage and the impact we have on the climate.” – Dylan Fields, 2016

What strategies to combat climate change and address these interrelated issues do you think are the best/worst for your country?

As of right now, research indicates Australia is already taking various steps as per its commitments to reduce carbon emissions. This includes the reduction of hydrofluorocarbons, the prevention of catastrophic wildfires through controlled burns and the government support of carbon neutrality and renewable innovation, to list a few. The reduction of carbon will contribute towards better sustenance of water levels, however Australia could embrace more direct approach towards this issue to better maintain it. Individually, Australians can be driven to better control their own usage of water through restrictive technologies (i.e. low-consumption hose nozzles). To better increase industrial savings, companies may need to introduce water conservation incentives, better educate employees, become more aware of their sourcing and better control how their company utilizes water for internal business procedures (i.e. cleaning, irrigation and plumbing). In regards to Australia as a nation, the government is now prompted to increase their own input on this issue. This would include more efficient irrigation throughout urban and rural settlements to ensure minimal loss of resources and equal distribution. Furthermore the country may focus on making use of water through technologies such as hydroelectric dams to maximize the water that is being consumed. However, this strategy may propose further issues in terms of emissions and influence on natural hydrological processes, especially if executed on a national scale, and therefore should be treated with a tremendous amount of caution.

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