Water Security Statement

A comprehensive understanding of South Australia's water security status enables us to plan for and adapt to future water security challenges.

The Water Security Statement provides an overview of water security across South Australia and includes ten strategic priorities for investment and reform out to July 2024. These priorities seek to further enhance water security while adapting to a changing climate.

The Annual Water Security Update 2023 includes updated information on water availability and use for Adelaide and other key regional areas, along with water security projects and initiatives underway in each region.

Targeted water security initiatives, such as the Barossa Water Security Strategy, Northern Water Supply Project and Resilient Water Futures enable consideration of long-term water security for key water resources, communities and industries.

The Water Security Statement and the 2023 Update were prepared to meet the water planning requirements of the Water Industry Act 2012 (the Act).

The next review and update of the Statement is currently planned for June 2024 to coincide with the the finalisation of SA Water’s Regulatory Business Proposal for the 2024 to 2028 regulatory period.

For further information please contact us via email on DEWWater@sa.gov.au.

Strategic Priorities

The ten strategic priorities set out in the Statement include working with industry, key stakeholders and partners to:

1. Invest in understanding climate impacts to support adaptive decision-making and increase resilience.
2. In partnership with key stakeholders, develop targeted water security strategies for key water resources, communities and industries.
3. Ensure water resource management is ecologically sustainable and that water allocation plans are updated within timeframes that reflect statutory requirements and risks to users and water resources.
4. Ensure that the critical human water needs of all South Australians are able to be met, including in remote communities.
5. Continue to drive full implementation of the Murray–Darling Basin Plan to achieve a healthy River Murray – to meet critical human water needs for over 90% of South Australians, maintain vibrant river communities, meet the aspirations of First Nations peoples, and sustain internationally important flood plains and wetlands.
6. Ensure First Nations have equitable access to water resources for cultural purposes, including economic purposes.
7. Develop and implement an Urban Water Directions Statement that sets a state framework for optimising the use of all urban water sources in a way that supports growth, greening and liveable towns and cities; efficient and cost-effective water use; and the release of recycled water for productive use outside urban areas.
8. Implement the recommendations of the 2021 review of the Water Industry Act 2012 to drive innovation and competition in the water industry.
9. Invest in data management, analytics and decision support tools to efficiently monitor and manage emerging water risks and opportunities, increase transparency and support timely decision-making.
10. Work with the South Australian water sector, including water retailers and the research, innovation and education sectors, to build the state’s capacity to respond to future water challenges across the economy and capture a greater share of an expanding global market for water technologies and services.