Water security

The Queensland Water Commission released the South East Queensland (SEQ) Water Strategy in 2010 to:

• ensure that water is managed on a sustainable and integrated basis, and
• provide secure and reliable supplies of acceptable quality for all users for the long term.

The vision for water security in SEQ is that there will be sufficient water to support a comfortable, sustainable and prosperous lifestyle while meeting the needs of urban, industrial and rural growth and the environment.

Known as the water supply guarantee, this water security vision will be achieved by:

• balancing community expectations of water security, quality and cost
• embedding water efficiency throughout the water supply and demand chain
• managing water security through diversified and integrated water supplies and drought preparedness
• improving environmental outcomes, including healthier waterways, through integrated strategic planning and catchment management.

The Millenium drought changed the way the SEQ community thinks about and uses water and the strategy reflects this changed attitude. The strategy was developed using planning methods and a water balance model that considers climate change, climate variability, population growth and other regional factors affecting supply and demand.

SEQ has a water supply network that is increasingly diversified and interconnected. The Strategy will ensure there are water supplies located throughout the region that, over time, can supply all parts of SEQ with reticulated drinking water supplies through an expanding grid of inter-connecting pipe networks.

A range of measures are provided for in the Strategy, including new dams and weirs, desalination, water recycling, off-grid sources and demand management. This combination will make the most of rain received and provide protection from periods of drought.

As part of the Strategy, there will also be pre-determined drought response plans in place to meet water needs during future periods of prolonged drought. Corridors and potential sites will also be identified and preserved so the best new water supply infrastructure can be built in the future.