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Water management in South Australian towns and cities is informed by a large body of monitoring data, analysis and research.

National and international urban water management developments are followed closely, combined with an understanding of local conditions and needs to develop the best water management approach for South Australia’s towns and cities.

Key information sources have been collated below. This collection does not include information, reports or data related to individual projects or activities, which should be sought from the proponent.

Information and data sources

WaterConnect – South Australia's water information portal

Regional surface water and groundwater assessments prepared annually by DEW

SA Water database of current tap water mineral make‑up and supply information for towns and suburbs

South Australia flood awareness website with links to a Flood Awareness Map

Real time water monitoring data for South Australia

Green Adelaide water monitoring data and analyses from long term ongoing citywide program

EPA Aquatic ecosystem monitoring evaluation and reporting for South Australia

Water Sensitive SA interactive WSUD map for South Australia

SA Water operations data over 5 years 2014 – 2019

Urban national performance report of Australian water utilities Bureau of Meteorology

Treenet database of 20 years of Symposia on urban greening including water management

Hydrological Society of South Australia archive of 20 years of seminar presentations

Water data and information Department for Environment and Water

Urban water reports

The South Australian resilient town and city reference catalogue contains links to more than 300 on line reference and management documents related to the management of water, greening, heat and natural environments in the towns and cities of South Australia. This reference catalogue includes strategies, technical reports, discussion papers, guidelines, manuals, and journals and conference articles.

Significant publications related to the management of water in South Australian towns and cities are listed below.

Setting our future urban water directions

Support Paper 1: Water supply for the future
Support Paper 2: Drainage and flood management
Support Paper 3: Water for life
Feedback Form

Department for Environment and Water2021

Alternative Water Supplies Efficiency Measures project Stormwater modelling study

DesignFlow

2020

Integrated Urban Water Management — Why a good idea seems hard to implement

Productivity Commission

2020

Data and Network Summary for AMLR Surface Water Monitoring Network

Water Data Services

2019

Accounting for climate change in the management and development of South Australia’s stormwater infrastructure

University of Adelaide

2019

National Water Reform

Productivity Commission

2018

The impact of infill development and WSUD measures on minor drainage system performance

University of South Australia

2018

Catchment Analysis and Data Summary for AMLR Surface Water Monitoring Network

Water Data Services

2018

Vision and Transition Strategy for a Water Sensitive Adelaide

CRC for Water Sensitive Cities

2017

Benchmarking, Envisioning, and Transition Planning for a Water Sensitive Adelaide: Final Case Report

CRC for Water Sensitive Cities

2017

Managed aquifer recharge schemes in Adelaide

Government of South Australia

2017

New modelling capability to target stormwater interventions that support seagrass health along Adelaide's coast

Goyder Institute for Water Research

2016

Code of Practice Irrigated Public Open Space

Local Government Turf and Irrigation Technical Group

2015

Implementing Water Sensitive Urban Design in Stormwater Management Plans.

Goyder Institute for Water Research

2015

Development of an agreed set of climate projections for South Australia Final Report

Goyder Institute for Water Research

2015

2015 AMLR Water Quality Trend Analysis Summary of the Hydrometric and Composite Sample Station Network

Water Data Services

2015

Impacts of projected climate on flows in the Mt Bold Reservoir catchment

Goyder Institute for Water Research

2014

Transitioning Adelaide to a Water Sensitive City

Government of South Australia

2014

Review of the National Urban Water Planning Principles

Productivity Commission

2014

Managed Aquifer Recharge and Urban Stormwater Use Options: Summary of Research Findings

Goyder Institute for Water Research

2014

AMLR Regional Surface Water Quality 2013

Water Data Services

2013

AMLR Water Quality Trend Analysis Summary of the Hydrometric and Composite Sample Station Network 2012-13

Water Data Services

2013

The Status of Water Sensitive Urban Design Schemes in South Australia

Goyder Institute for Water Research

2013

Water Sensitive Urban Design : Basic procedures for ‘source control’ of stormwater – a handbook for Australian practice

University of South Australia

2013

Australia’s Urban Water Sector

Productivity Commission

2011

AMLR Water Quality Trend Analysis Summary of the Hydrometric and Composite Sample Station Network 2011

Water Data Services

2011

Potential Impact on Water Resource availability in the Mount Lofty Ranges due to Climate Change

Government of South Australia

2010

Integrated Urban Water Management Planning Manual

CSIRO

2010

Water Sensitive Urban Design - Greater Adelaide. Technical Manual

Government of South Australia

2010

AMLR Water Quality Trend Analysis Summary of the Hydrometric and Composite Sample Station Network 2010

Water Data Services

2010

Urban Stormwater Harvesting Options Study

Wallbridge and Gilbert

2009

Adelaide Coastal Waters Study

CSIRO

2007

Floods in South Australia 1836 – 2005Bureau of Meterology2006

Aquifer Storage Capacities of the Adelaide Region

Government of South Australia

2004

Metropolitan Adelaide Stormwater Management Study Parts A, B, C

Kellogg Brown & Root Pty Ltd

2004

Urban Stormwater Best-Practice Environmental Management Guidelines

CSIRO

1999

Resilient town and cities document collections

Stormwater Management Authority

Water Sensitive SA

Department of Transport and Infrastructure Green Infrastructure Commitment

Water Services Association of Australia Publications

LGA Community Wastewater Management System (CWMS) Useful publications & resources

Researching urban management for resilient towns and cities

South Australian urban water research organisations:

Goyder Institute for Water Research

National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training at Flinders University

Water Research Australia

Water Research Centre at the University of Adelaide

Current and historic programs researching urban management for resilient towns and cities

Historic research programs have informed the development of urban water management in South Australia and remain a source of information. Each research program had particular drivers and research aims, so while these contributed to the body of knowledge at the time, care should be taken when applying the findings, which may have been superseded.

Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities 2015 to 2021

Cooperative Research Centre for Low Carbon Living 2012 to 2019

Goyder Institute Urban Water Research program 2013 –14

Victorian Centre for Climate Change Adaptation Research 2009 to 2014

National Tree Day Research

Journals featuring research into management for resilient towns and cities

Available via:

Researchgate

Science Direct

  • American Journal of Public Health
  • Applied Energy
  • Applied Geography
  • Atmospheric Environment
  • Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability
  • Ecological Indicators
  • Ecological Modelling
  • Ecosystem Services
  • Ecosystems
  • Energy Procedia
  • Environmental Management
  • Environmental Modelling and Software
  • Environmental Research
  • Frontiers of Architectural Research
  • International Journal of Biometeorology
  • International Journal of Water Resources Development
  • Journal of Environmental Management
  • Journal of Hydrology
  • Land Use Policy
  • Landscape Ecology
  • Landscape and Urban Planning
  • Planning Theory & Practice
  • Plants People Planet
  • Plant Physiology
  • Procedia
  • Procedia – Social and Behavioural Sciences
  • Procedia Engineering
  • Science of the Total Environment
  • Urban Forestry & Urban Greening
  • Urban Science
  • Urban Water
  • Water
  • Water Cycle
  • Water e-journal
  • Water Research
  • Water Resources Research
  • Water Resources Planning and Management
  • Water Science & Technology