Improving water management
From OECD Economic Surveys: Australia, Vol 18 October 2008 (26 p.)
Over the past 15 years, water management issues have come to the fore in economic policy discussions. Over-exploitation of water and harmful environmental effects have become major concerns, while water is not used efficiently, especially in rural areas. Water extraction levels that are ecologically sustainable have been breached in a number of regions. Guaranteeing water security and diversifying supply for major urban areas has become a major policy challenge. This chapter reviews the challenges posed by water management, assesses the policies to meet them and suggests ways to make them more effective.