Water South Australia

Water is one of the most important factors that affect the development of South Australia. As South Australia developed, the demand for water increased to the point that it outstripped the sources of local water. More pipeline system was also created to provide for the demand of the new parts of the state.

Rainfall

The state receives an annual rainfall of 300 mm and 1000 mm, especially in the southern and coastal areas. The rainfalls usually happen in the winter and also during the early spring. The rain creates a stream that flows. During the summer, the streams become a series of pools and because of the high evaporation, these bodies of waters dry up.

Climate

The climate of the state is most of the time semi-arid or arid. The rainfall during this climate is sporadic and when it gets intense, it causes flooding. Evaporation rates in the far north of the state are usually high. The water in the surface dries out really quick. During the natural state, wetlands, floodplains, and streams gets abundant and diverse, especially in fauna and flora. There are also concentrations of natural algal and bacterial growth occasionally.

Topography

The wetlands of this state serve as a breeding site and refuge during the dry periods. The streams, floodplains, banks from the wide range of stream which are the natural ecosystem of the area are the major contributors of the groundwater of the area. The developments in the area have a big effect on the ecosystem. There has been big degradation on the water ecosystem of the state because of these developments. The degradations came from gross changes of the natural stream, diffuses pollution, altered stream flows, riparian vegetation changes, and pesticides.

Surface Water

Most of the surface water of the state is fresh to marginally saline. There may also be high stream flows but are often turbid. These surface waters are brackish if the salts are flushed from drier catchments or during the high evaporation rates of the summer. Streams in catchments that are highly developed usually have elevated concentrations of nutrients with heavy metals which are turbid. Because of these, they can not be used for a lot of things anymore. Streams that are found in catchments that has natural vegetation usually have the best water quality. Land clearing in agricultural areas caused deep rainfall infiltration increase in the groundwater. When the groundwater rises towards the surface, the salinity of the soil occurs. This increases the salinity of the stream. This process can be contained and controlled in a local setting through vegetation retention, drainage and water extraction. Water is not an abundant resource in South Australia; this is why place arrangement is properly implemented by the appropriate management and authorities.