New projects to boost regional and remote access to cleaner water
An injection of more than $3 million from the Australian and Western Australian governments is delivering 2 new science projects to improve water in regional and remote Western Australia.
The first project will look at using brackish groundwater in drought-prone agricultural regions. It builds on recent CSIRO research into brackish groundwater characterisation, also funded by the Australian Government. The project will help find better ways to locate and use this water. It will also create:
- maps
- guides
- training packages to help landowners and communities manage their own water.
These materials will support landowners and local communities to prepare for sustainable water self-supply.
The second project will trial low-tech monitoring and treatment methods to improve drinking water quality in remote Aboriginal communities. It will use water chemistry test kits and domestic-scale freeze desalination in the:
- Pilbara
- Gascoyne
- Goldfields.
These tools will be used as an interim measure while long term solutions are developed. This project will help these communities learn more about their water and how to manage it. It also aims to build trust between communities and water providers.
Together, these projects will help:
- protect water supplies
- support agriculture
- improve health in regional and remote areas.
These projects support Australia’s commitment to universal access to clean and affordable water. They also contribute to the Closing the Gap Target for equitable essential services by 2031.