Issues of domestic water use in four remote Indigenous communities in South Australia
CRCAH project nos: SD136 and SD169
Administering organisation:
Flinders University
Project Leader:
Meryl Pearce
Team members
Meryl Pearce, Eileen Willis, Carmel McCarthy, Ben Wadham, Fiona Ryan
Contact details
Meryl Pearce
Tel: (08) 8201 2327
Fax: (08) 8201 3521
Email: Meryl.Pearce@flinders.edu.au
Program Manager
Scott Davis,
Social Determinants of Health program
Funding sources
- CRC for Aboriginal Health
- Desert Knowledge CRC
- Flinders University
- South Australian Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation (DAARE)
- Commonwealth Department of Family, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA)
- United Water (Australia)
Partners Involved:
- Flinders University
- Desert Knowledge CRC
- DAARE
- United Water
- FAHCSIA
- CRC for Aboriginal Health
- Davenport Aboriginal Community
Project summary
These projects (SD169 was an extension of SD136) sought to provide a response from four Aboriginal communities to the National Water Initiative directives to move to a full cost recovery ‘user pays’ system. The impact on Aboriginal communities of a move to user pays was examined through an analysis of the cost of living in all four communities with the aim of ascertaining capacity to pay for water and water efficient infrastructure.
Project Outcomes:
These projects found that the percentage of income spent on water in the four communities ranged between 0.8% to 3.3% of weekly household income. At the same time, between 82 to 130% of income is spent on basic food and health items, indicating there is little capacity to increase household water payments. Any move to a ‘user pays’ system would place families under considerable financial stress.
A range of water saving technologies were identified for the four communities. These included increased rainwater collection, installation of passive temperature control features to reduce reliance on evaporative cooling systems, installation of dual flush toilets and waterless urinals, and conducting household water audits of internal fittings.
In one community, a Water Smart Grant to increase rainwater harvesting was received thanks to the assistance of the project.
The projects found modest water use in all four communities, however there is scope to improve water use efficiency. In some communities further water savings are being hindered by inappropriate housing design and leaking infrastructure, but the cost of solutions will be an obstacle to their implementation.
Summary of project implementation
An action research approach was used. Aboriginal people from four communities in South Australia – Nepabunna, Yarilena, Scotdesco and Davenport – participated in focus groups and interviews, as well as undertaking data collection.
These projects are also sub-project 4.105 of the Desert Knowledge CRC Core Project 4: Viability of settlements (what are the drivers of viability). 4.105 CP4: Subproject: Water service delivery and changing household water use. More information here.
Timeline:
The original project start and finish dates areAugust 2005 - July 2007.
The project report was launched on 14 August 2008.
Reports and publications:
Related links:
Media release, Flinders University, 17 March 2005: Issues with Outback Water Supply
Tom Jenkin. Water in Aboriginal Communities in SA. Powerpoint presentation
National Water Initiative webpage
[Last updated 10.10.2008]