South Australia Running Out of Water  

Adelaide Now reports that Adelaide water prices are set to double as the state runs short of water and has to buy supplies from elsewhere - SA to buy 'critical needs' water.

FOR the first time in its history, South Australia will have to buy water to guarantee supplies for critical human needs next year. The move reveals the increasing severity of the nation's water crisis at the end of the Murray River.

Necessary water supplies to Adelaide and towns across the state are at this stage not secured from July next year, which has forced the Rann Government on to the open water market. It has already bought 30 gigalitres from water resources shared with NSW and Victoria and admitted yesterday it had spent tens of millions of dollars to bolster the state's supplies.

Authorities must have 201gigalitres in reserve to ensure the water needs of the nation's fifth-largest city and the rest of the state are able to be met.

The state's Water Security Minister, Karlene Maywald, admitted yesterday that the lack of rainfall and dramatic reduction of inflows into the Murray River had meant the state could not accumulate its critical water needs without buying water from its neighbours.

Just over a year ago, water expert Professor Mike Young warned in The Australian that Adelaide could run dry this summer. He said yesterday the Government's move into the water market confirmed the dire situation the city and the state's Riverland food bowl faced in the coming year. ...

The Murray-Darling Basin Commission reports that inflow into the Murray last month was 140 gigalitres, just 18 per cent of the long-term average of 780gigalitres. November was the 38th consecutive month of below-average inflows. Under the River Murray dry flow contingency plans, the first priority is given to critical human needs.