Sydney’s water supply is in crisis scenario due to drought and population increase. The Metro Water Plan hopes to supply Sydney’s water need by 2015. This plan focuses on three main areas, saving water, recycling and finding additional supplies.

1. WATER/WASTE WATER

2. For every bucket of the Earth’s water that there is, only one drop of it could we drink (without pre-treating it). Water is apart of a closed system meaning that the same water that existed on the earth millions of years ago is still present today. A person can live without food for 1 month , but can only survive for about 1 week without water. Water has many functions and uses, Water is the basis for all life. It essential to our survival as our bodies are made up of 70% of it. Elemental Geosystems, Robert W. Christopherson, 2004. http:// www.tear.org.au/resources/target/022/water_facts.htm Groundwater represents a major proportion of the Earth’s usable water resources , approximately 22.04% of all freshwater . Of all the earths water supply, only 2.78% of it is fresh water.

3. SYDNEYS DAM SYSTEM TALLOWA DAM Construction 1971-1976 85,000 ML Capacity Part of the Shoalhaven Scheme SHOALHAVEN-RIVER WATER EXTRACTION SCHEME 7,500 ML pumped into Warragamba Dam annually, or 205 ML daily This pumping system is part of the Shoalhaven Power Scheme, where water is pumped up hill from Tallowa Dam to Fitzroy Falls Dam and released back, generating 240 MW. WINGECARRIBEE DAM 24,121 ML Capacity Water pumped from Shoalhaven can be diverted into Warragamba Dam or into the Nepean River. AVON DAM Construction 1921-1926 Capacity 214,260 ML NEPEAN DAM Construction 1925-1935 Capacity 81,360 ML These 4 Dams are the oldest supply of water in Sydney, and feed directly into prospect reservoir. CORDEAUX DAM Construction 1918-1926 Capacity 93,640 ML CATRACT DAM Construction 1902-1907 Capacity 94,300 WARRAGAMBA DAM Construction 1948-1960 Capacity 2,027,000 ML Supplies 80% of Sydney's water PROSPECT RESERVOIR Filtration Plant Supplies 4 million People with clean water The Water Supply, Sewerage and Drainage of Sydney, W.V.Arid 1961 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoalhaven_River http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_Nepean_Scheme Metro Water Plan 2006

4. http://www.sydneywater.com.au/SavingWater/ReducingLeaks/ Sydney’s average annual rainfall is 1200mm compared with Australia’s average rainfall of 400 mm. Sydney loses 2.8 billion Litres through Leaking pipes every year which is around 13 Thousand Olympic sized swimming pools. Sydney has 21 000 Km of Water Pipes The total capacity of Sydney’s water supply is around 4.6 sydney harbours Sydney’s current storage system could provide Sydney with four years of supply with no inflow. Sydney’s total catchment size is 15 651 Km2 About 40% of the flow of Australian streams comes from groundwater.

5. Increased evaporation from dams and reservoirs Increase in infiltration of runoff in catchment areas Climate Change in New South Wales Part 1: Past climate variability and projected changes in average climate: Climate Impact Group, CSIRO Atmospheric Research Scenarios Shows: Rainfall will become more varied with longer and dryer periods in between rainfall, Though when it does rain, the rainfall will be much more intense. = Less water for use . = PREDICTED CHANGE IN RAINFALL FOR NSW USING DIFFERENT CLIMATE MODELS

6. CRISIS SCENARIO: DUE TO DROUGHT AND POPULATION INCREASE SYDNEYS DAMS FALL TO 10% CAPACITY 2 0 0 6 M e t r o p o l i t a n W a t e r P l a n This graph shows that Sydney at regular intervals experiences water shortages. Using this data coupled with the predicted increase in population and trend of global climate change, this could be a possibility for Sydney Population graph showing population growth predicted population for the years 2015 and 2030 http://www.metrostrategy.nsw.gov.au/dev/uploads/paper/housing/index.html

7. OVERVIEW OF METRO WATER PLAN The Metro Water Plan hopes to supply Sydney's water needs by 2015 The plan has three main focuses; saving water, recycling and finding additional supplies. The plan has a good chance at success, however there are improvements and changes which can be made to make sure Sydney’s dam levels never reach 10% Metro Water Plan 2006

8. A key aspect of the Metro Water Plan is its proposed recycling scheme This scheme hopes to recycle 180 GL per year. This recycling scheme is the basis of the first proposed policy change Or 72 thousand Olympic pools Metro Water Plan 2006

12. The new water pricing system is based on a taxation system , which is used in Canada rather than the penalty system used in Australia. With this system the average 4 person family will pay the same water bill with out rainwater and gray water capabilities, however they will save over 60% of their bill with rain water and grey water systems. This would save them around $504 yearly Under the governments plan you can only save $472.40 POLICY 3: WATER PRICING Drinking Water Consumption by Sector Metro Water Plan 2006 Water Rates & Charges By-law, Council of the City of London, Ontario, Canada 2006 Sydney Water, Usage charges 2007-2008 NEW WATER PRICING SYSTEM RESIDENTIAL PRICE SYSTEM USE UP TO 75KL $1.20 PER KL 76KL – 150KL $3.00 PER KL ABOVE 150KL $3.50 PER KL COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, INSTITUTIONAL AND MULTI-UNIT DWELLINGS FIRST 10KL $4.00 PER KL 11KL - 2000KL $1.80 PER KL ABOVE 2000KL $2.00 PER KL GOVERNMENT WATER PRICING SYSTEM ALL USERS UNDER 100 KL $1.339 PER KL OVER 100 KL $1.828 PER KL