The Big Issue

In Adelaide and other towns in South OZ, we survive only by recycling the already polluted Murray water through an established filtering and cleaning system. This system cleans the water to a point where it is fit enough for us to drink and use for other things. When the proposed desalination unit (which will be a good thing?) is built, it will, unfortunately, only supply water to places that are already connected to the mains water infrastructure – not to our struggling farmers.

I believe we should redirect Adelaide’s waste water to a future Filtration Recycling Complex, which could be based at Paringa close to the SA–VIC boarder. That way the water can be cleaned and filtered to a point at which it can be safely pumped back into the Murray River system. Instead of pumping our wastewater into the sea, which is only polluting the Peninsula, we need to redirect this filtered water back into the Murray to replace the water we have foolishly taken for granted.

The water from the desalination complex will supply Adelaide and the towns connected to the existing mains water systems only, taking some pressure off the Murray. The extra water generated from the wastewater plant can be redirected back to our farmers along the Murray who totally depend on water to produce the things we need to survive. With this system of replacing water, instead of just taking water out, we will be helping to revive the Murray River System, bring it back to a healthier ecosystem and give it a chance to provide us with life sustaining food and water for now and for the future.

David N sells The Big Issue Norwood and other locations around Adelaide.