Managed Aquifer Recharge policy

Changes for WA.............

Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) can help to reduce demands on our natural groundwater and surface water resources and provide sustainable water supplies for community, industry and environmental needs.

Water use has increased with population growth, while at the same time climate change has resulted in reduced rainfall in some areas of the state, particularly in the south-west, affecting replenishment of aquifers, dams, watercourses and wetlands. Groundwater is the biggest source of private and public water in Western Australia. Many groundwater resources are fully allocated and groundwater levels have dropped by nearly 2 metres across the Perth region since the mid-1970s. This has reduced the amount of water available for use by the community, industry and the environment. Vegetation and fauna that depend on groundwater in our ecosystems have been impacted by the drop in the water table and acid-forming soils have been exposed, making some lakes and wetlands acidic.

Along many areas of the coast, and associated rivers and estuaries, saline water has moved further inland, making the water quality in some bores more saline and not suitable for purposes such as irrigation. MAR may help to address these problems where hydrogeological and environmental conditions are suitable and costs are not prohibitive. ​

Click here to view the Brochure Govt of WA Dept of Water and Environmental Regulation