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What science is required to cope with the water crisis?
National Water Commission CEO Ken Matthews gave a presentation to the Academy of Science last month, reiterating many of the findings detailed in the National Water Commission's 2009 Biennial Assessment.
His presentation (which can be downloaded below) focused on the areas for science improvement, which included:
- climate, seasonal, weather and hydrological forecasting
- climate change adaptation
- identifying environmental assets and water regimes
- environmental externalities
- improving environmental water management
- National Water Initiative-consistent water planning
- groundwater-surface water connectivity
- managing water interception
- enabling integrated water cycle management
- informing health and environmental regulation of water
- enabling new water technologies such as recycling.
According to Mr Mathews:
Good water management should be science and evidence-based. This is why the National Water Commission has pushed hard for better science and better access for science. Our water institutions need to be far less-fragmented, research infrastructure needs to be optimised and there needs to be better connectivity between users and providers. It is not an option to take the politics out of water. Decisions should be science-rich and science adequate, but not science-determined. Choices, judgements and trade-offs will always be required.
Mr Matthews observed that Australia currently lacks a national policy-led water science strategy, whilst noting that Council of Australian Governments (COAG) is developing a National Water Knowledge and Research Strategy. In addition to establishing a national water science strategy, other suggestions for reform included having an annual national forum to identify science needs and capabilities, developing a national coalition of water science providers and an improved budgeting process for water sciences.
