A new report by the National Water Commission defines the concept of ‘water stress’ in groundwater or surface water system. It describes a nationally consistent method for measuring water stress, as an indicator of potentially overused surface water and groundwater system. Catchments and aquifers with high levels of stress are identified, and the report discusses whether these systems have water management mechanisms in place to potentially reduce the stress.
The report shows that “despite public focus on the Murray-Darling Basin, the causes of water stress are not confined to the impacts of irrigated agriculture.”
Read more at http://www.nwc.gov.au/publications/topic/planning/water-stress
