Salinity and the River Murray

Summary

South Australian farmers rely on clean water for agriculture and the environment, but salinity poses significant challenges. Originating from naturally salty groundwater in the Murray Darling Basin, salinity increases due to agricultural practices that reduce native vegetation, allowing more water to enter the groundwater. The Murray River's salinity is managed through strategies like efficient irrigation and salt interception schemes. South Australia's salinity management program aims to balance the salt budget and is currently reviewing its salinity zoning policy for new irrigation developments.

Takeaways

• 🌱 South Australian farmers need quality water for agriculture, homes, businesses, and the environment.
• 💧 Salinity in water causes problems like equipment corrosion, bad water taste, and impacts on native vegetation and agriculture.
• 🌾 Agriculture suffers because crops and animals don't thrive in salty water conditions.
• 🌊 Salty groundwater naturally flows into the River Murray and comes from deep beneath the Murray Darling Basin.
• 🏞️ Before agricultural development, native vegetation helped reduce water movement into the salty groundwater.
• 🧑‍🌾 Clearing native vegetation and planting irrigated crops has increased water flow into the salty groundwater, making the river more saline.
• 🤝 Governments across the Murray Darling Basin have been collaborating to manage salinity for almost 30 years.
• ⚖️ Managing salt is like maintaining a 'salt budget'—for every ton of salt added, a solution must be found to remove it.
• 🚜 South Australia's salinity management strategies include efficient irrigation, land management, and salt interception schemes.
• 📜 The salinity zoning policy aims to minimize the salinity impact from new irrigation developments and is currently under review.

Q & A

Why is good quality water important for South Australian farmers?

Good quality water is crucial for growing food, supporting the economy, and maintaining clean water for homes and businesses. It also supports the environment.

What problems can be caused by salinity in water?

Salinity can lead to increased costs due to equipment damage from corrosion, poor water taste, and negative impacts on native vegetation, especially in floodplains and wetlands. It also affects agriculture as crops and animals may not thrive.

How does managing salinity in the River Murray present a challenge?

Managing salinity in the River Murray is challenging because it requires finding ways to remove salt from the water, similar to maintaining a 'salt budget'.

Where does the salty groundwater originate from?

The salty groundwater originates deep beneath the ground in the Murray Darling Basin, where it can be saltier than seawater.

How does agricultural development contribute to increased salinity?

Agricultural development contributes to increased salinity by clearing native vegetation and planting irrigated crops, which increases the amount of water moving into the salty groundwater.

What strategies are being used to manage salinity in South Australia?

Strategies include more efficient irrigation, land management salt interception schemes, and a salinity zoning policy.

How do salt interception schemes help manage salinity?

Salt interception schemes work by pumping salty water out before it enters the river, thus reducing the salinity levels in the river.

What is the purpose of the salinity zoning policy?

The salinity zoning policy aims to minimize the salinity impact from new irrigation developments.

Is the salinity zoning policy currently under review?

Yes, the salinity zoning policy is currently under review.

How can one get more information or provide feedback on the salinity policy?

More information and opportunities to provide feedback can be found by visiting the Natural Resources SA and AV website.

What is the role of native vegetation in managing salinity?

Native vegetation plays a role in managing salinity by soaking up rainfall, which reduces the amount of water that moves through the soil and into the salty groundwater.