Boosting water security in remote South Australia

Water infrastructure with capacity totalling 290,000 litres has been constructed within the Iga Warta Homeland in South Australia.

This includes two new bores and monitoring systems as well as two new water storage tanks, set to provide safer and more reliable water for residents in the Flinders Ranges.

The infrastructure rectifies a contaminated sole bore water source, where regular bacterial outbreaks occurred and strained water supply.

The project is being funded by the Federal Government, through the National Water Grid Fund, in partnership with the SA Government, with $10.2 million invested across several projects.

Other work being completed includes locating, drilling and equipping new bores to feed groundwater to nearby desalination or ultraviolet water treatment facilities. Rehabilitation work is ongoing across three sites.

New monitoring wells will be drilled to help SA Water measure underground water levels over time, ensuring secure groundwater supplies going forward.

Traditional Owners are providing specialist knowledge and hydrological research to inform the project. This will help pinpoint possible untapped groundwater basins.

“It’s great to see projects now completed in SA under the original $150 million commitment made in our first term to support First Nations communities,” Federal Minister for the Environment and Water Murray Watt said.

“This is what we’re all about; we’re helping ensure First Nations communities have access to drinking water that meets national guidelines.”

SA Minister for Climate, Environment and Water Lucy Hood said the government was working with remote Indigenous communities to develop long-term water security solutions.

“These projects help maintain a reliable drinking water supply for communities including during hot and dry conditions,” she said.

“This type of co-investment helps us to enable self-supplied communities like Iga Warta to achieve their goals to be self-sufficient and sustainable – to grow their own food, reintroduce and propagate native trees, and offer tourism experiences, sharing the history of Adnyamathanha people.”