The water allocation plan considers the environment's demands when calculating how much water can be taken and used for various purposes. Plans for water allocation specify the quantity of water available for use, its distribution to users, water trading conditions, and the activities allowed.
Why are water allocations necessary?
Water being a priceless resource, the quantity of water to use continuously has a limit. Thus, it's crucial to give current and future consumers of water, especially those whose livelihoods depend on it, confidence. A water allocation strategy provides this assurance. Plans for allocating water consider social, economic, and environmental concerns and help maintain long-term sustainability and security.
How is a Water Allocation plan developed?
Stages in the water allocation plan development –
- A risk assessment identifies hazards to the water resource, water users, and the environment.
- Depending on the risks the community is trying to manage, it offers the opportunity to contribute to the water allocation plan's content.
- A drought water allocation plan is created based on the choices on the hazards to the water resource, the environment, and water users.
- A consultation process gets feedback and opinions from the community on the proposed water allocation plan.
- Before presenting a final water allocation plan for adoption to the Minister for Environment and Water, the regional landscape board decides whether to make any changes to the drought based on community comments.
- Within ten years of its adoption, the evaluation of the established water allocation plan to ensure it still manages hazards to the water resource, environment, and community occurs.
Water Allocation plan implementation: licences & permits-
- The Department for Environment and Water implements the SA water allocation plan after the Minister has approved it. According to the guidelines outlined in the water allocation plan, the department administers the water resource distribution to current and future users.
- Water users must have purchasing water rights, which details the allocation and restrictions that apply to consuming water to receive a water allocation. One may need to apply for a permit if they intend to conduct activities on a water body (such as a dam, lake, river, or floodplain)
Plan reviews and modifications for water allocation-
- The SA water allocation plan is in place for most prescribed water resources.
- Within ten years of their adoption, water allocation policies must be revisited. If there is a good reason, like in the discovery of a new risk, a review may also occur at any moment.
- The effectiveness of the SA water allocation plan's risk management is examined, along with the necessity of any necessary adjustments. If a review determines that a modification is needed, a procedure to modify the water allocation plan in conjunction with the community is started.
Conclusion
The goal of this plan is to make sure that water is distributed from the groundwater resources within the Far North PWA (Prescribed Wells Area) in a way that avoids adverse effects on the GAB (Great Artesian Basin) springs, refuge non-spring GDEs (Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems), and the capacity of existing groundwater systems.
