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Australia

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Amazon
Area: 5888268 km2
Countries:
Brazil; Peru; Suriname; France; Colombia; Guyana; Bolivia; Venezuela; Ecuador
Cities:
Santa Cruz; Manaus; La Paz
PFAF ID:
HydroBasin Level:
Baseline Water Stress:
Water Quality Stress:
Sanitation Access Stress:
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Quick Info

2.38 out of 5
WWF Country Risk Score
150 out of 248 Countries
WWF Country Rank
Total Organizations: 69
Total Projects: 8
Priority SDGs: Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4)
Increase Access to Water, Sanitation, Hygiene (SDG 6.1 & 6.2)
Water Quality (SDG 6.3)
Water Use Efficiency (SDG 6.4)
Integrated Water Resource Management (SDG 6.5)
Protect and Restore Ecosystems (SDG 6.6)
International Cooperation and Capacity Building (SDG 6.a)
Stakeholder Participation (SDG 6.b)
Water-Related Disaster Management (SDG 11.5)
Sustainable Production (SDG 12.4)
Climate Resilience and Adaptation (SDG 13.1)
Priority Regions: --
Priority Industries: Power generation
Organization Types:
46%
Business
30%
NGO / Civil Society
7%
Academia
6%
Government
6%
Utility / Water Service Provider
1%
Bilateral and / or Intergovernmental Agency
1%
Multi-stakeholder Organization
1%
Water Fund
Profile Completion: 91%

Water-Related Challenge Costs

Total annual estimated cost to address all water-related challenges: $12,284,151,503.00

Share of total annual estimated cost to address each individual challenge (2015 $USD):

  • Access to Drinking Water: $556,908,564.00 - [5%]
  • Access to Sanitation: $727,483,749.00 - [6%]
  • Industrial Pollution: $495,863,277.00 - [4%]
  • Agricultural Pollution: $2,101,342,868.00 - [17%]
  • Water Scarcity: $6,355,194,462.00 - [52%]
  • Water Management: $2,047,358,584.00 - [17%]

For more about this data, see information on WRI’s Achieving Abundance dataset here.

Water Challenges

As reported by organizations on the Hub.

20.7%
Physical water supply
13.8%
Influent
13.8%
Water Demand and Competition among Users
10.3%
Access to Water Supply and Water Services
10.3%
Compliance with Local Regulations and Widely-Accepted Standards
10.3%
Socioeconomic and Reputation
6.9%
Land Use Issues
6.9%
Local Water Resource Governance
3.4%
Upstream Water Issues
3.4%
Water Pricing

Country Overview

1.1.1.WATER RESOURCES Australia’s water resources are highly variable, and range from heavily regulated working rivers and groundwater resources through to rivers and aquifers in almost pristine condition. On average, 90 per cent of rainfall is directly evaporated back to the atmosphere or used by plants; only 10 per cent becomes runoff into rivers or recharge into groundwater aquifers. This runoff and recharge is highly variable, resulting in significant differences in water availability across Australia. Groundwater makes up nearly one-fifth of Australia’s ‘sustainable’ water resources. In 2004-05, total runoff was estimated at 242.8km3 and total groundwater recharge at 49.2km3. This gives a total inflow to Australia’s surface and groundwater resources of 292km3 (10 per cent of rainfall). Based on these figures, runoff to rivers made up 83 per cent of total inflows, and groundwater recharge accounted for 17 per cent. Runoff is not evenly distributed across the country. In 2004-05, more than 60 per cent of Australia’s total runoff was in Australia’s three northern drainage divisions: -Gulf of Carpentaria drainage division (62.1km3); -Timor Sea drainage division (50.2km3); -North-East Coast drainage division (40.2km3); In contrast, the Murray-Darling Basin was relatively dry, accounting for only six per cent of Australia’s runoff in 2004-05. There are 501 large dams in Australia. In 2004-05 the total storage capacity of these dams was 83.8km3. In addition to large dams, there are more than two million farm dams across Australia. These dams are estimated to have a total storage capacity of 8km3. Groundwater makes up approximately 17 per cent of Australia’s ‘sustainable’ water resources. Much of Australia’s groundwater is drawn from the Great Artesian Basin – the largest groundwater reserve of its type in the world. It covers 22 per cent of the Australian continent and contains water that is up to two million years old. Determining how much groundwater is available is difficult. Compared to surface water systems, we know little about groundwater systems and, in many areas across Australia, surface water and groundwater resources are physically connected (for example, a lake might recharge a groundwater system, or groundwater might keep a river flowing when it is not raining).

1.1.2.WATER USE Water consumption in 2004-05 was 18.8km3. The sectors of the economy that used this water were: •agriculture: 65 per cent (12.2km3); •household: 11 per cent (2.1km3); •water supply industry: 11 per cent (2.1km3); •other industries (including electricity and gas): 7.4 per cent (1.3km3); •manufacturing: 3 per cent (0.6km3); •mining: 2 per cent (0.4km3). Of the water used by agriculture, most was used for irrigation of crops and pastures. Household water consumption equates to 104m3 of water per person per year, or 0.29m3 per person per day. Due to dry conditions and limited water availability, water consumption in Australia decreased by nearly 3km3, or 14 per cent, between 2000-01 and 2004-05. Over the same period: •agricultural consumption was down 23 per cent, largely due to the reduction in rice and cotton crops; •household consumption decreased 8 per cent, to 103m3 per person; •household use of reused or recycled water increased from 11 per cent to 16 per cent; •mining industry water use increased by 29 per cent, due to increased levels of mining activity, particularly in Western Australia; •nearly all (90 per cent) of the water used for agriculture in 2007-08 was used for irrigation. Pastures and crops used for grazing continued to be the largest users of irrigated water (26 per cent). Other high irrigation users were cereal crops for grain and seed, excluding rice, which used 15 per cent of irrigation water, and sugar cane, which used nearly 14 per cent. Rice was the most heavily irrigated crop in 2007-08, in terms of the volume of water applied per unit area. The application rate for rice was almost four times the national average rate across all crops and pastures. Cotton was the crop with the second highest irrigation rate.

1.2.WATER QUALITY, ECOSYSTEMS AND HUMAN HEALTH Australia’s major environmental problems are: soil erosion from overgrazing, industrial development, urbanization, and poor farming practices; soil salinity rising due to the use of poorquality water; desertification; clearing for agricultural purposes, which threatens the natural habitat of many unique animal and plant species; increased shipping and tourism, which threatens the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast coast, the largest coral reef in the world; limited natural fresh water resources. The National Water Quality Management Strategy (NWQMS) provides the information and tools to help communities manage their water resources to meet current and future needs. It provides policies, a process and a series of national guidelines for water quality management. The Water Country Overview - Australia Quality Management Framework includes a step-by-step approach to planning, implementing and managing water quality for each area, plus information about common environmental stressors. More than 80 per cent of the river length that was assessed across Australia was affected by catchment disturbance. The least affected reaches were in Tasmania and the Northern Territory. Hydrologic change could be assessed in only 25 per cent of the river length, due to a lack of data. In about 20 per cent of the regulated river length that was assessed, the flow regimes were largely unmodified from an ecological perspective. Stream habitat was modified from pre-European conditions in more than half of the river length that was assessed. Degradation of the habitat was considered to be largely because of changes in the sediment loads that alter channel morphology and loss of riparian vegetation. Scores for habitat were lowest in New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia. Nutrients and suspended sediment loads were higher than pre-European settlement conditions in more than 90 per cent of the river lengths assessed, and are substantially modified in at least one third of the river length that was assessed in every state and territory, except Tasmania. Based on the 2001 Assessment of Murray-Darling Basin River Health Condition, the following observations were made: •10 per cent of river length was identified as severely impaired, having lost at least 50 per cent of the types of aquatic invertebrates expected to occur there; •more than 95 per cent of the river length assessed had an environmental condition that was degraded and 30 per cent was substantially modified from the original condition; •most reaches in the central and western part of the Basin were moderately modified; •all groups of reaches in the Basin had disturbed catchments and modified water quality; •many parts of the Basin were threatened by multiple stresses, principally land use changes, damaged riparian vegetation, poor water quality, increased bedload, and modified hydrology

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Organizations in Australia


Alegria activity S.L. produces special purpose mobile units. These mobile units are special purpose vehicles used to deploy any kind of service directly and easily to any location and social community in order to conduct turn-key campaigns in HEALTH, EDUCATION, … Learn More

The Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) (www.a4ws.org) is a global membership-based network of businesses, civil society organisations and the public sector dedicated to promoting the responsible use of freshwater. AWS Members contribute to the sustainability of shared water resources through … Learn More

Antea Group is an international engineering and environmental consulting firm with access to more than 3,000 consultants in over 100 offices around the world. Our Sustainability Practice brings together management consultants and technical experts offering solutions from strategy through implementation … Learn More

The company was founded for this moment, on a combined conviction in the power of human ingenuity and the potential of practical action to solve the problems of the decisive decade, and make sustainability happen. We believe that productivity and … Learn More

A Tanzania consulting firm on development issues including water, sanitation, energy and climate change. Learn More

Production of chemicals and equipment for potable water treatment and industrial water preparing. Learn More

ASMAN Software Solutions Private Limited is a provider of cutting edge software consultancy, design and development services with headquarters in Hyderabad, India. The company made its inception into the IT arena in 2011 and offers a comprehensive range of Software … Learn More

To bring people and resources together to build a better world. Learn More

El grupo Biosfera, es un think tank en investigacion de futuros sustentables. (BIOSFERA, INVESTIGACIÓN DE FUTUROS) es un equipo de análisis cuyo core business es la investigación prospectiva para la construcción de futuros deseables (futurables), asociados a la sustentabilidad (planeamiento … Learn More

Blue Planet Network provides a technology platform for funders to easily select, monitor, and manage WASH projects that have been peer reviewed and vetted for quality and sustainability. Each member project must pass a rigorous peer review and planning process … Learn More

Our company has been harvesting water from fruit, vegetables and sugar cane since 2014. When fruit, including sugar cane, and vegetables are pressed to extract juice and then evaporated to make concentrate or sugar, they produce a large volume of … Learn More

The Centre for Advanced Research &amp; Development (CARD) is a non-government agency established, in India, with its Head quarters in Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh established in 1992. The CARD has been established to promote advanced research and to apply its … Learn More

Independent advisory company seeking to catalyse environmental investments Main focus areas within water issues: water and irrigation, water and sanitation, water and business risk Learn More

The Climate Connected Benefit Society is an industrial and provident society for the benefit of the community – a very simple funding vehicle, which allows ordinary, socially aware investors in the UK to put their capital to work in a … Learn More

Utilising the natural resource that is sub seabed water and capitalising on the naturally filtered qualities to provide sustainable affordable upstream utilities Learn More

Ingenieria y Consultoría Ambiental. Learn More

The Corporate Eco Forum (CEF) is an invitation-only membership organization for large companies that demonstrate a serious commitment to environment as a business strategy issue. CEF’s mission is to help accelerate sustainable business innovation by creating the best neutral space … Learn More

Main focus is SUDS retrofit to tackle flooding and water quality problems in the City of Coventry, UK, and to provide biodiversity and amenity benefits to wildlife and citizens. Coventry has Living Lab Status and the group includes Coventry University … Learn More

Cummins is an American Fortune 500 corporation that designs, manufactures, and distributes engines, filtration, and power generation products. Learn More

“IC Medicals” and “ The Emission” are two genetically integrated global internet projects about informational copies of substances and biological objects. DST Foundation initiated the integration of these phenomenal projects in August 2009 as they both are based on usage … Learn More

Deltares is an independent, institute for applied research in the field of water, subsurface and infrastructure. Throughout the world, we work on smart solutions, innovations and applications for people, environment and society. Our main focus is on deltas, coastal regions … Learn More

Desolenator is a transformative approach to water provisioning: Our world-first solar thermal desalination solution harnesses 4x more solar energy, to turn seawater or brackish water into high quality, pure water with zero harm to the planet. Protecting critical business assets … Learn More

Earthwatch is an International NGO which focusses on scientific research and education about environmental issues. Earthwatch run FreshWater Watch, an employee engagement programme which raises awareness of fresh water issues through hands-on Citizen Science Leader training days. In addition to … Learn More

Developing European Environmental Policy The European Commission develops and implements EU policies by proposing laws to the European Parliament and Council of the European Union helping EU countries implement EU legislation managing the EU's budget and allocating funding ensuring that … Learn More

Future 500 is a non-profit consultancy that builds trust between companies, advocates, investors, and philanthropists to advance business as a force for good. Our organization formed in 1995 as a venue for corporations and environmental NGOs to debate the systemic … Learn More

GSMA Mobile for Development brings together our mobile operator members, the wider mobile industry and the development community to drive commercial mobile services for underserved people in emerging markets. We identify opportunities for social, economic and environmental impact and stimulate … Learn More

Global Compact Local Network Learn More

Global Empowers is a purpose-driven social enterprise that exists to Uplift And Free People To Empower Each Other. Our Water Does Matter project aims to improve rural communities' health and living standards in Zambia and across Sub-Saharan Africa by providing … Learn More

We are a young &amp; smart Australian Technology company that is among the global leaders and pioneers of Augmented Reality(AR) SaaS solutions. We pride ourselves on our expertise in the realm of Extended Reality(XR) with our solutions spanning across devices … Learn More

Since its foundation in May 2007, HYTECON has generated an established market position within the field of consulting services for water and technical hygiene related aspects, focussing especially on innovative and customer-oriented solutions. A highly experienced team of microbiologists and … Learn More

Purpose of the organization is to promote socio, economic and cultural advancement of weaker sections by education, training, research and field action programs. Specific focus is to promote awareness on water sanitation among rural poor communities and help them to … Learn More

Currently celebrating its 42nd year, ICCR is the pioneer coalition of active shareholders who view the management of their investments as a catalyst for change. Its 300 member organizations with over $100 billion in AUM have an enduring record of … Learn More

BETTER public private partnership, with partner company John Todd Ecological Design, involved in sustainable water and wastewater and waste to food design and project development worldwide. See www.betterp3.com and www.toddecological.com Learn More

As we share our water with the entire planet, we feel that it is a precious resource. We monitor how we use water at our factories and are constantly working on ways to reduce our consumption of fresh water resources. … Learn More

We are focussed on working with all relevant stakeholders to create a sustainable and productive Mary River catchment. The Mary River is located in Queensland, Australia. Learn More

Microsoft's mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Learn More

Why? To share the wonder of wetlands so they become valued as unique, vibrant and essential community assets. Our Approach: Restoring wetlands of the Murray-Darling Basin and improving the management of wetlands throughout the catchment by linking community, science, business … Learn More

"The Murray-Darling is also one of the most vulnerable river basins on Earth. Decades of engineering, over-allocation and the drying effect of climate change have significantly reduced runoff to rivers, creeks and wetlands within the basin. In a recent assessment … Learn More

NAQWA is a Russian company that develops and makes nano drinking water recoverers. Our product NAQWA SPRING Drinking Water Recoverer (NAQWA SWR, www.naqwa.com ) created and manufactured in Russia is intended to provide sustainable drinking water solutions first of all … Learn More

The NSW Government has identified 38 state outcomes for the eight public service clusters. These outcomes are assigned to different clusters to provide direction, accountability and clear goals for our activities. The Department of Planning, industry and Environment cluster is … Learn More

NVH's mission is to provide low cost, low energy solutions for sanitation and ground water pollution. NVH partners with the Indian Ministry of Defence Research Laboratory to commercialise for global use an effective biological process creating potable water as only … Learn More

Sunass regulates water and sewage companies, oversees quality of service standards, settles customer complaints and sets regulated prices. Learn More

National Water Brokers specialise in consulting and brokerage of permanent and temporary irrigation water entitlements, sales and leasing in Australia. We are an innovative, solutions focused company specialising in irrigation water sales in the states of South Australia, New South … Learn More

· Climate change impact risk assessments, strategy, adaptation and proofing · Resilient cities / business · Water resources yield and supply assurance · Hydrology, specialising in Forest Hydrology (Professionally registered) · Flood modelling · Conceptual water supply planning · GIS … Learn More

Nature Foundation is an apolitical not-for-profit foundation that invests in conserving, restoring and protecting South Australian landscapes, flora and fauna to ensure their survival. We aim to lead the way in sustainable nature conservation. Find out more about the history … Learn More

A pioneer and the world-leading provider of Drip Irrigation solutions, Netafim is the largest player in the global irrigation industry. With 14 manufacturing facilities in 11 countries, 27 subsidiaries, and a strong global distribution network across 110-plus countries, Netafim combines … Learn More

The company specializes in innovative water treatment solutions with the use of renewable energy. Climate change and demographic growth will double the water demand by 2030 (UN). More than 3.9 billion people may suffer from the lack of water by … Learn More

We develop agroforestry projects within the supply chains of companies (Insetting) and value water benefits, among others. We develop as well a Trees4Water valuation tool that we would like to share with your platform. WE REGENERATE ECOSYSTEMS TO IMPROVE LIVELIHOODS … Learn More

Rethink Plastic – Purpose Driven Fundraising Purpose driven fundraising. Providing a global “pay back”, fundraising in Australia to educate and improve awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals. The futuristic approach, brings a combination of products, film and educational resources, such … Learn More

The Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority (SIDA) is an autonomous organization, taking over the Sindh irrigation and drainage system from the Sindh Irrigation and Power Department. It was established in 1997, an innovative act to devolve power in the water … Learn More

We are Ukrainian company SOUZ-CONTINENT. Our company has advanced innovative, high-tech development projects to work with the water is getting the alternate energy and water purification. Very interested in mutually beneficial cooperation for the prosperity of the world community. Learn More

Christopher Gleadle brings Sustainability, and the Green Economy• to life and shows you how to capture, create and deliver more value: serve customers better, reduce costs and mitigate conspiring environmental and social risk to see opportunity for greater profit. His … Learn More

CAWST, the Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology, is a non-profit organization that provides training and consulting to organizations that work directly with populations in developing countries who lack access to clean water and basic sanitation. CAWST "walks beside" … Learn More

The mission of The Nature Conservancy is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. We acheive this through the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff, including more than 550 scientists, located in all 50 U.S. states … Learn More

Trucost provides data and insight to help its clients understand the economic consequences of natural capital dependency. Our clients include companies and their advisors, the investment community, governments, academics and thought leaders. Learn More

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VILLAGES UNIS est une ONG Suisse, reconnue d’utilité publique au N° 080.913007 date de la décision 18/12/2013 et basée dans la république et Canton de Genève Elle est active dans les domaines de la coopération au développement, à l'aide humanitaire … Learn More

WASH is critical to leading healthy lives. Yet billions of people every day still do not have access to safe and clean water for drinking or washing, toilets and basic hygiene requirements to ensure that they stay healthy and well. … Learn More

Providing a new and innovative technology for in solution metals extraction as a replacement option to reverse osmosis, ion exchange, solvent extraction and chemical treatment of waters used in industry. Learn More

WRAP is a climate action NGO working around the globe to tackle the causes of the climate crisis and give the planet a sustainable future. We were established in the UK in 2000; we now work in 40+ countries. Working … Learn More

Wastewater Exchange is the designer and the implementer of the Ethical Water Exchange (all rights reserved) transforming wastewater into commoditised treated wastewater for the good sake of our health, planet, economy &amp; water resources as common good. Learn More

Water Canada is an influencer, a networker, and a newsmaker. Our editors and researchers know the industry and the people implementing plans and projects on the frontlines. Thousands of readers turn to us for exclusive, insightful content that speaks to … Learn More

Water Stewardship Australia (WSA) is developing and promoting the concept of water stewardship in Australia and the Asia Pacific region. It was a founding member of the global Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS). WSA developed the world's first water stewardship … Learn More

Water Technologies International (GR8 Water) is engaged in the manufacture and distribution of technologically advanced Atmospheric Water Generators (AWG). These unique devices utilize a patent pending air purification input system to produce clean, great-tasting, safe water from the humidity in … Learn More

Wello is a social venture with a bold mission: to deliver clean water to a thirsty world. By reframing the water crisis as an opportunity, Wello has reinvented the wheel and developed an innovative and sustainable business model. THE WATERWHEEL … Learn More

Whirlpool Corporation is fiercely committed to helping our consumers improve their lives at home through the use of our products. We design our products with our consumers in mind—including innovative features that save time, reduce costs and lower their environmental … Learn More

Promoting the use of innovative water-from-air tech for evaporation and condensate recapture &amp; reuse by communities and businesses resiliently adapting to global warming and responding to disasters. In arid and drying regions lacking or losing surface and groundwaters, atmospheric (clean) … Learn More

ÁLON connects people and resources to raise awareness, converge best practice and collaboration, to support the transition of industries, leaders &amp; lifestyles dependent on water – towards minimizing our water footprints. “We aim to shape consensus among pioneering Water Ambassadors … Learn More

Projects in Australia


This reforestation project is conducted in collaboration with the NGO Greening Australia and local farmers in 4 biodiversity hotspots in Australia, internationally renowned for their flora and fauna diversity and richness. The project aims at preserving biodiversity and strengthening vegetal … Learn More

At Coal South Africa, long-term integrated water management plans are being developed for sites to mitigate non-compliance risks and post-closure water management liabilities. These will be based on the development of robust conceptual hydrogeological models, which will provide high confidence … Learn More

Klabin's Forestry Incentives program: with benefits such as research and planting techniques which are disseminated among the farmers, this activity helps to promote recuperation of the vegetation, environmental preservation, and the conscientious consumption of natural resources. Learn More

Our company Maithri Aquatech has developed MEGHDOOT (which in Sanskrit means Messenger of the Clouds), an Atmospheric Water Generator which produces the purest form of potable water from the humidity present in the AIR! The water is also microbe-free and … Learn More

Electrolux tracks and follows water consumption on a monthly basis, and has implemented a water best practice toolbox. Electrolux has carried out a water risk study based WWFs water risk filter, to identify sites where water shortages pose risks to … Learn More

Water For Nature is an initiative of Nature Foundation. Established in 2008 during the Millennium Drought, Water For Nature has been helping to redress the loss and stress to the ecosystems and habitats of the River Murray caused by river … Learn More

Summary of action BP saw water as a large source of risk for its operations in Western Australia, so it was essential for BP to lower the water use at the refinery. To this end, the refinery started a Water … Learn More

At our dairy factories in Brazil, we reuse the water extracted from milk to save resources. Milk is composed of 80% water and, during the production of powdered (Ninho and Molico) and condensed (Moça®) milk products, we need to remove … Learn More


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