14 May 2012

Water Security for 20 years

| johnboy
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water

The Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission has announced the release of its draft report on Secondary water use in the ACT and has declared:

‘The ACT has now emerged from one of its worst droughts on record. Based on the major investments that are underway currently and the actions of the ACT community in reducing their water consumption, the ACT has achieved a high level of water security that could last for the next 20 years,’ announced Senior Commissioner, Mr Malcolm Gray.

Simon Corbell has let his pleasure been known:

Commenting on the release of the ICRC’s draft report on secondary water use in the ACT, Mr Corbell said the findings were confirmation of the ACT Labor Government’s decision to invest significantly in water security projects and provide Canberrans with ongoing water security for decades to come.

“The enlarged Cotter Dam, Murumbidgee to Googong pipeline project and the purchase of water entitlements from the Tantangara Dam Catchment are all confirmed as prudent projects which will provide our community with a high level of water security for decades to come” Mr Corbell said.

“The report also confirms that the ACT Government’s 2023 target of a 25% reduction in per capita water consumption is likely to be met in 2013, well ahead of the target year.”

The ICRC Report concludes that the ACT community’s current water needs can most cost-effectively be met through the ACTEW primary water supply network.

The report finds that the Government should not undertake any further secondary water investments at this time, noting that the Inner North pilot stormwater reticulation trial, that utilises stormwater from constructed ponds to irrigate nearby parklands and playing fields, should continue and be fully evaluated.

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welkin31 said :

To get back on the topic of water –
[1] The drought was normal compared to past droughts –
no need for all the “worst ever” or “worst in a 100 yrs” exaggerations we have all been subjected to –
[2] From the 90’s various Govts had neglected to enhance our dams as population grew –
[3] The Stanhope Govt made the whole situation worse by delaying the no-brainer decision to enlarge or build a dam as they looked at every other conceivable possibility –
[4] Including as we all know the laughable idea to desalinate at the coast and pump water up the scarp; any junior engineering student with a calculator could tell you in ten minutes it was a no go –
remember from 2007 –
“Radical water proposal for ACT”
Actew is looking at a radical proposal to build a desalination plant on the NSW coast and pump water over the mountains to Canberra as the water crisis worsens.
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/radical-water-proposal-for-act/281666.aspx
[5] The process of examining this or that Green & PC way to make water was done under the constant influence of doomster climate change predictions –
[6] The micro-sized 100 year old Cotter dam was spilling near two thirds of our consumption every year and even an enlargement to say half of the current plan would have saved us a lot of water –
[7] After half a decade of delays they then over-react by building both a big new Cotter dam as well as the Tantagara to Googong scheme which has less than ironclad rights to get water into the ACT system –
see ACTEW media
“Thieves threaten our water supplies” – 30 Dec, 2011
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/thieves-threaten-our-water-supplies/2406434.aspx?storypage=1
[8] IMHO the Angle Crossing to Googong pipeline will turn out a white elephant –
[9] To add to the general air of scientific excellence throughout the entire decade long saga we have to pay for periodic utterances such as this gem from ACTEW 7 Jan 11 –
“Although the rains offered breathing space, Actew says there is no reason to doubt scientific predictions of another two dry decades.””
http://the-riotact.com/wet-2010-just-a-blip-according-to-actew/35157
[10] There must be a book in this whole saga – “How not to run a water utility”.

Someone should give Welkin a job.

He is unparalleled in the scientific field of 20-20 hindsight.

He can predict large rainfalls 2 years after they have fallen and second guess professionals with a single Canberra times news story. Brilliant.

To get back on the topic of water –
[1] The drought was normal compared to past droughts –
no need for all the “worst ever” or “worst in a 100 yrs” exaggerations we have all been subjected to –
[2] From the 90’s various Govts had neglected to enhance our dams as population grew –
[3] The Stanhope Govt made the whole situation worse by delaying the no-brainer decision to enlarge or build a dam as they looked at every other conceivable possibility –
[4] Including as we all know the laughable idea to desalinate at the coast and pump water up the scarp; any junior engineering student with a calculator could tell you in ten minutes it was a no go –
remember from 2007 –
“Radical water proposal for ACT”
Actew is looking at a radical proposal to build a desalination plant on the NSW coast and pump water over the mountains to Canberra as the water crisis worsens.
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/radical-water-proposal-for-act/281666.aspx
[5] The process of examining this or that Green & PC way to make water was done under the constant influence of doomster climate change predictions –
[6] The micro-sized 100 year old Cotter dam was spilling near two thirds of our consumption every year and even an enlargement to say half of the current plan would have saved us a lot of water –
[7] After half a decade of delays they then over-react by building both a big new Cotter dam as well as the Tantagara to Googong scheme which has less than ironclad rights to get water into the ACT system –
see ACTEW media
“Thieves threaten our water supplies” – 30 Dec, 2011
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/thieves-threaten-our-water-supplies/2406434.aspx?storypage=1
[8] IMHO the Angle Crossing to Googong pipeline will turn out a white elephant –
[9] To add to the general air of scientific excellence throughout the entire decade long saga we have to pay for periodic utterances such as this gem from ACTEW 7 Jan 11 –
“Although the rains offered breathing space, Actew says there is no reason to doubt scientific predictions of another two dry decades.””
http://the-riotact.com/wet-2010-just-a-blip-according-to-actew/35157
[10] There must be a book in this whole saga – “How not to run a water utility”.

Re quality of Canberra water, it would be a perfect product if only there were no (toxic) fluoride added. I am still amazed people actually think it is good for them – it actually causes all manner of problems not the least of which is thyroid problems.

It’s highly concerning that people do not have a choice about this – we are basically being bulk-‘medicated’. (On the Central Coast, where the water supply did not have fluoride added, people could get fluoride drops if they really wanted to have it).
Note: the fluoride added to our water is an industry by-product and not the stuff found naturally in areas where people have good (but mottled) teeth. Google and see.
You would think the Greens would take this issue up (Al?). I emailed the ACT Greens about it some time ago but they just said they had caved (sorry, ‘accepted the NHMRC’s recommendation’ instead of taking precautionary principle).

I suggest we switch from coal to burning climate change denialists instead. Two birds with one stone.

Woody Mann-Caruso6:58 pm 15 May 12

I have just peer reviewed your post and endorse it accordingly.

Yep. You’re most definitely peers. No doubt about it whatsoever.

johnboy said :

Don’t forget built some useless infrastructure in the form of the wetlands.

C’mon,
they’re useful if you own a property nearby.
The ACT government just gave them a good increase in value, how nice of them.

johnboy said :

Don’t forget built some useless infrastructure in the form of the wetlands.

I like looking at the Lyneham and Dickson wetlands as I ride by, I’ve noticed that the ducks have moved in, people seem to enjoy walking their dogs around them, and they do have a water quality benefit. Useless is a big call.

shauno said :

Deref said :

SnapperJack said :

Crash goes the last desperate scare campaign by the climate change brigade.

We’re truly fortunate to have with us on RA someone who knows more than 97% of the world’s climate scientists.

Please – share with us the evidence which proves that you’re right and they’re wrong, so that we can pass it on to them. Boy – will their faces be red!

Climate change is real as it has been for the 4.5 billion year history of the Earth. We just don’t have to worry about it we’ll get over it and I can assure we wont see anything like the scare mongering predictions of the likes of Flanery or Robin 100m Williams. The whole climate change debate has been ruined by silly scare tactics and dodgy climate models that havnt produced results seen in the real world observations.

I have just peer reviewed your post and endorse it accordingly.
First it was “Global Warming”, then “Man Made Climate Change” then “Carbon Pollution” now “Climate Variation”. The latest desperate rants by Flannery and Steffan are reminiscent of the last days of the Third Reich.
I am now donning my aluminium foil-enhanced tin hat to protect me from the abuse I am about to receive from HenryBG and his comrades.

shauno said :

Deref said :

SnapperJack said :

Crash goes the last desperate scare campaign by the climate change brigade.

We’re truly fortunate to have with us on RA someone who knows more than 97% of the world’s climate scientists.

Please – share with us the evidence which proves that you’re right and they’re wrong, so that we can pass it on to them. Boy – will their faces be red!

Climate change is real as it has been for the 4.5 billion year history of the Earth. We just don’t have to worry about it we’ll get over it and I can assure we wont see anything like the scare mongering predictions of the likes of Flanery or Robin 100m Williams. The whole climate change debate has been ruined by silly scare tactics and dodgy climate models that havnt produced results seen in the real world observations.

shauno, sorry to read you have been badly mis-informed on this serious and urgent issue. This link to NASA is a brief summary of the key indicators of Climate Change. Have a look, if your interested.
http://climate.nasa.gov/keyIndicators/

Deref said :

SnapperJack said :

Crash goes the last desperate scare campaign by the climate change brigade.

We’re truly fortunate to have with us on RA someone who knows more than 97% of the world’s climate scientists.

Please – share with us the evidence which proves that you’re right and they’re wrong, so that we can pass it on to them. Boy – will their faces be red!

Climate change is real as it has been for the 4.5 billion year history of the Earth. We just don’t have to worry about it we’ll get over it and I can assure we wont see anything like the scare mongering predictions of the likes of Flanery or Robin 100m Williams. The whole climate change debate has been ruined by silly scare tactics and dodgy climate models that havnt produced results seen in the real world observations.

Roundhead89 said :

Deref said :

SnapperJack said :

Crash goes the last desperate scare campaign by the climate change brigade.

We’re truly fortunate to have with us on RA someone who knows more than 97% of the world’s climate scientists.

1970s – The Children of God
1980s – The Moonies
1990s – Mahikari
2000s – Climate Change

This is so exciting! 🙂 I can’t wait to see the peer reviewed papers disproving climate science!

SnapperJack said :

Crash goes the last desperate scare campaign by the climate change brigade.

“At its core, global climate change is not about economic theory or political platforms, nor about partisan advantage or interest group pressures. It is about the future of God’s creation and the one human family. It is about protecting both `the human environment’ and the natural environment.”
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops statement.

“There’s a better scientific consensus on Climate Change than on any issue I know — except maybe Newton’s second law of dynamics,”
D. James Baker, administrator of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

“We simply must do everything we can in our power to slow down global warming before it is too late… The science is clear. The global warming debate is over.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger, bill signing ceremony for California’s strict anti-emissions law, September 26, 2006.

Roundhead89 said :

Deref said :

SnapperJack said :

Crash goes the last desperate scare campaign by the climate change brigade.

We’re truly fortunate to have with us on RA someone who knows more than 97% of the world’s climate scientists.

1970s – The Children of God
1980s – The Moonies
1990s – Mahikari
2000s – Climate Change

Some people put their faith in scientists whose specialise in the field of climate science. Others put their faith in liberal conservative journalists.

SnapperJack said :

Crash goes the last desperate scare campaign by the climate change brigade.

Sorry, have you forgotten the water restrictions already? The water infrastructure we had was inadequate even without considering climate change.

Deref said :

SnapperJack said :

Crash goes the last desperate scare campaign by the climate change brigade.

We’re truly fortunate to have with us on RA someone who knows more than 97% of the world’s climate scientists.

1970s – The Children of God
1980s – The Moonies
1990s – Mahikari
2000s – Climate Change

Deref said :

We’re truly fortunate to have with us on RA someone who knows more than 97% of the world’s climate scientists.

*Scientologists. Scientitians at best.

SnapperJack said :

Crash goes the last desperate scare campaign by the climate change brigade.

I assume you mean that ‘after spending lots of money on infrastructure and forcing people to change their water use habits, the apparently surprising result is that the problem has been reduced’.

VYBerlinaV8_is_back2:33 pm 14 May 12

So let’s summarise – our existing infrastructure was no longer sufficient to mee our needs, so we reduced demand a bit, built some more infrastructure and were fortunate enough to have a period of higher than average rainfall.

Doesn’t really seem to complex.

Don’t forget built some useless infrastructure in the form of the wetlands.

SnapperJack said :

Crash goes the last desperate scare campaign by the climate change brigade.

We’re truly fortunate to have with us on RA someone who knows more than 97% of the world’s climate scientists.

Please – share with us the evidence which proves that you’re right and they’re wrong, so that we can pass it on to them. Boy – will their faces be red!

Crash goes the last desperate scare campaign by the climate change brigade.

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