‘Desperate’: Water crisis looms in one Australian city

Residents in one major Australian city have been warned that they could be forced to slash their water usage if a new water source isn’t found.

Tough water restrictions are expected to return to Brisbane in the next year if the state government ignores warnings, the Lord Mayor says.

Adrian Schrinner say the restrictions could become a reality, as new forecasts suggest the total water supply could drop by 20 per cent by September 2024.

Wivenhoe Dam – the city’s major water store – is sitting at 71 per cent of its total capacity of more than 1.16 million megalitres, according to SEQ Water.

Fresh data from the water authority suggests the grid could fall to 60 per cent as soon as January and to 50 per cent by September.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner is warning that water restrictions could be implemented as early as September 2024. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

“It’s been clear for a number of years now that Brisbane desperately needs another major water source,” Mr Schrinner said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Residents are currently being warned they could face water restrictions in 12 months’ time if weather predictions about a dry summer are right.”

The last time the city implemented water restrictions was in 2021 when the grid fell to 55.3 per cent.

“The ridiculous game of Russian roulette being played with residents and water restrictions must end,” Mr Schrinner said.

The water supply could drop to 50 per cent by then. Picture: Supplied

The capital city is projected to accommodate another 200,000 homes in the next two decades, placing more pressure on the city’s water supply.

The Lord Mayor is using the grim prediction as an opportunity to renew calls for the development of a new water source.

“I’ve said for years now that Brisbane is going to need another water source in addition to Wivenhoe Dam,” he said.

“And it’s going to need it far sooner than previously predicted.”

Mr Schrinner said he was open to a conversation about water storage alternatives that didn’t entail the construction of a new dam.

“I’m agnostic about whether it’s a dam, desalination or recycled water,” he said. “But this is a conversation we have to have.

“It takes years to properly plan and deliver new water sources.”

He is calling on the state government to respond now to the problem while there is still time to mitigate the damage.

“Once again, I’m calling on the state government to urgently address the precarious predicament of Brisbane’s water supplies,” he said.

“If it continues its approach of not doing a damn thing, our region will be left even more at risk of running dry.”

More than 110,000 megalitres of water was released from Wivenhoe Dam last October after flooding rains earlier that year filled the dam to 180 per cent capacity.