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Articles Pindan Post No 78 Pindan Post No 78627 words Water conservation has become a major topic in many publications in recent months. With most topics concerning the reduced flow of most of the worlds large rivers, emphasis has shifted to underground supplies, now being pumped in ever increasing amounts. Arsenic levels in many developing countries are increasingly being raised by pumping water at higher levels than ever before, while rainfall recharge of the aquifers in general cannot keep up with demand. Many of the world’s large river deltas are sinking due to the huge amount of water being pumped, compaction of silt and sediment and the greatly reduced flow of rivers that usually deposit sediment. This, on top of the changing patterns of climate, is certain to end in disaster for many millions of people in coming years. Here in the Kimberley we must not be complacent, the Fitzroy River still flows strongly when rains are good, we have excellent supplies of underground water supplies, and water is ‘cheap’. This may not always be the case as in 20 years or so, our population is expected to be much larger, pressure will likely be continued on tapping the Fitzroy and The Canning basin aquifer for water for industry and cropping and we may then start to see water supply and quality become a local problem. Water conservation must become a number one priority for our region. High water gardens using exotic plants are simply unsustainable in Australia. Compacted roadsides, streetscapes and backyards also do nothing to help recharge aquifers, but instead are responsible for faster runoff and increasing erosion. A recent scientific publication also points to our consumer choices as a large impediment to conserving water, for instance “20,000 litres are needed to grow a kilo of coffee and 11,000 litres are needed to make a quarter pounder,” but rainwater harvesting can make a huge impact as the article in this week’s New Scientist points out. Rainwater harvesting is becoming a social movement in Indian society where some dramatic examples have taken place in the last 10 years. These methods of water conservation can be adopted quite easily through the judicious use of swales, minimizing compaction and carefully planned irrigation (as a last resort), but clever use of water-wise indigenous plants in our gardens will make a difference. Palms and wide expanses of lawn are simply non-sustainable in the future without using recycled water. Kimberley Environmental Horticulture recently won the Judges Award for Excellence in design for the landscape produced in the new ‘Old Broome Estate,’ by the Urban Design Institute of Australia. The swales along the verges between driveways are designed to restrict runoff and improve water retention, and the species selected to grow here are water-wise, and in some places they are able to withstand water-logging, particularly near drains. The more run-off to the ocean, the worse our problems will become, as has been seen recently with the algae affecting our mangroves. This will be compounded further with the amount of recent development taking place around Broome. The drier February and March periods we are encountering has prompted flowering in many native species in town. Most Acacias have continually flowered during the wet, Eucalypts and Paperbarks also taking their turns. The Dampier Bloodwood, Eucalyptus dampieri is now flowering all over town as well as a number of lesser known species such as Wrightia pubescens. These are notable at St Mary’s High School Campus and at Lottery’s House. Others flowering at Lottery’s House include Tabernaemontana orientalis that has beautiful frilly white scented flowers, followed by small orange banana shaped fruits, and Murraya paniculata subspecies that has ripe red fruits. Many others in the bush are also flowering such as Gardenias, as well as a large array of herbs and ground covers. 10/03 |
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