New Tougher Australian Water Rules Not Nearly Enough In Record-Shattering Drought

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WATER restrictions have cut consumption by Australian households to 1950s levels, but a chronic failure by state governments to invest in infrastructure will force further crackdowns on use in 2007 unless the nation receives significant rain. Research by national water utilities has found water consumption per head has been driven down to 1950s levels by the tough restrictions.

Up to 20 per cent of the cuts in household consumption were reported since 2001, when severe restrictions were implemented as rainfall in the catchment areas began to drop. This is despite a doubling in the average size of houses, with more bathrooms and increased numbers of swimming pools.

According to Water Services Australia, in 1955-56 Sydneysiders used 343 litres per person per day, while Melburnians used 330 litres. In 2005-06, people in Sydney used slightly less - 339 litres per person per day - while Melbourne residents used 331 litres. Usage peaked at about 500 litres in the 1980s. But in the same period, the populations of the cities on the eastern seaboard have more than doubled while investment in water infrastructure has failed to keep pace.

After a post-war boom in developing new dams and water storage, investment in new dams has fallen sharply in the past decade, with little investment in alternative technologies such as recycling and desalination - with the exception of Perth.

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http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20974109-2,00.html