Psst...Australia...Wanna Buy Some Water?

If you have water to sell (a lot of it) then Australia may be giving you a call. Australia is no stranger to drought conditions. For instance, widespread droughts from 1991-1995 cost the Australian economy $5 billion dollars. And, there are reports of rivers and lakes in Australia shrinking. (Read more on the costs of drought in Australia.) Australia is the driest inhabited continent in the world. Now, the Australian government is planning on spending billions of dollars to buy water as part of the $12.9 billion dollar Water for the Future plan. Over ten years, the Water for the Future program will address four key priorities:

• Taking action on climate change
• Using water wisely
• Securing water supplies
• Supporting healthy rivers

Rebates will be available for the installation of rainwater and greywater tanks. In addition, the Minister for Climate Change and Water has committed $50 million for the purchase of water in the Murray-Darling Basin to help reduce the extent of overuse of water resources.

Other Resources on Australian Water

1. Overview of the National Water Initiative
2. The Water Act of 2007 from the Bureau of Meteorology
3. Australia Drought Records and History

While I have never visited Australia, several of my forum reader are true weather lovers. Head to the forum to get the latest developments on the water problems in Australia. (By the way, the title of this article comes from an inspiration I got from a blog post from the Dinosaur Guide here at About.com.)