Media Release

August 7 2009

SA's water supply hit harder by climate change

Water supply is the focus of Linda Zou's Gift of Knowledge lecture. A UniSA Professor will contend that South Australia’s water supply will be greater impacted by climate change than other states, increasing the need for alternative sources at a free public seminar this coming Wednesday (August 12).

Associate Professor Linda Zou, Deputy Director at the SA Water Centre for Water Management and Reuse says that state’s stored water supply is at risk from climate changes such as unpredictable weather and harsh drought.

“South Australia is well known as the ‘driest state on the driest continent’,” she says.

“Consider this alongside the fact that our water supply depends heavily on the River Murray and has a smaller storage capacity than other states. The result is a pressing need to find alternatives.”

Prof Zou says that the solution lies in combining traditional water sources with new sources developed out of research, such as desalination and water recycling, essentially diversifying our water supply.

“South Australians have to learn to live with drought,” she says. “Desalination and water reuse provide secure, non rain-dependent sources of clean water. We’ve heard of this technology before, but recently we’ve been exploring less common desalination techniques, including those that save energy.

“Continued support of our research is vital to refining these promising technologies.”

UniSA has a major role in desalination research including a partnership with the National Centre for Excellence in Desalination that is backed by $25 million in federal governmental funding.

The presentation is the sixth in the Gift of Knowledge series, part of UniSA’s drive to give the community access to valuable knowledge on key local issues.

Event details:
A Diversified Approach to Water Security: desalination and water reuse
Wednesday August 12th, 6:00pm start
Mawson Centre Lecture Theatre, Mawson Centre, UniSA Mawson Lakes Campus
To register visit unisa.edu.au/giftofknowledge

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