Australia-first plan to re-use 60 gigalitres of Adelaide stormwater

UP TO 60 gigalitres of stormwater will be harvested for urban re-use under a new stormwater strategy, said to be the first of its kind in Australia.

UP TO 60 gigalitres of stormwater will be harvested for urban re-use under a new stormwater strategy Water Minister Paul Caica describes as the first of its kind in Australia.

The strategy, developed by a taskforce made up of members from a range of government and industry groups, aims to harvest 20 gigalitres of stormwater in Adelaide by 2013 and 60 gigalitres by 2050.

Mr Caica said the strategy involved nine ways to improve the capture and re-use of Adelaide stormwater.

These include the development of a blueprint for urban water by 2014, introducing interim targets for water sensitive urban design, identifying ways to improve stormwater infrastructure, completing further studies to improve stormwater knowledge and commissioning a scientific research program to underpin urban water policy.

Mr Caica said the strategy would allow South Australia to reduce its reliance on limited water supplies.

"With 60 gigalitres of water by 2050, 23 gigalitres of water by the end of 2013, we can reduce our reliance on potable water by using that stormwater," he said.