Perth is having a drought

[Bretrick]

There has been no rain at all this year.

 

[Warrigal]

There has been no rain at all this year.

You must be a bit patient.
It's only the second day of this year.

 

[Mike]

I watch the Australian TV that we get here, most programmes,
names begin with Outback, then a variation, Gold Hunters, or
Opal Hunters, Truckers, etc., etc., they show only one and a little
bit, seasons!

The main one is desert sunshine up to 50C, they say, then the
Rainy season, when you get a year's rain in less than a week and
every road, in the "Outback", is closed for ages.

Recently there have been floods in some cities, this was on the news.

Does your government ever consider capturing the rainfall and get it
Underground before it evaporates, it can be done, but would probably
cost too much.

I hope that it rains soon.

Mike.

 

[PeppermintPatty]

I’d happily share our rain with you.

 

[Warrigal]

I watch the Australian TV that we get here, most programmes,
names begin with Outback, then a variation, Gold Hunters, or
Opal Hunters, Truckers, etc., etc., they show only one and a little
bit, seasons!

The main one is desert sunshine up to 50C, they say, then the
Rainy season, when you get a year's rain in less than a week and
every road, in the "Outback", is closed for ages.

Recently there have been floods in some cities, this was on the news.

Does your government ever consider capturing the rainfall and get it
Underground before it evaporates, it can be done, but would probably
cost too much.

I hope that it rains soon.

Mike.

Underground water is not uncommon in Australia.

A lot of the water that falls on the drier parts of the continent travels via underground aquifers. The channels on the surface dry up but the water continues to flow below ground level.

Extensive artesian basins are another source of water in dry areas of Australia. The water is brought to the surface to water livestock using wind power.

 

[Mike]

Underground water is not uncommon in Australia.

A lot of the water that falls on the drier parts of the continent travels via underground aquifers. The channels on the surface dry up but the water continues to flow below ground level.

Extensive artesian basins are another source of water in dry areas of Australia. The water is brought to the surface to water livestock using wind power.

That is good to Warrigal, I had the impression that
the rain water just sat on the surface until the sun
dried it up.

The exported TV is giving the wrong impression, but
I suppose drama sells better, than if all is well.

Mike.

 

[Bretrick]

I watch the Australian TV that we get here, most programmes,
names begin with Outback, then a variation, Gold Hunters, or
Opal Hunters, Truckers, etc., etc., they show only one and a little
bit, seasons!

The main one is desert sunshine up to 50C, they say, then the
Rainy season, when you get a year's rain in less than a week and
every road, in the "Outback", is closed for ages.

Recently there have been floods in some cities, this was on the news.

Does your government ever consider capturing the rainfall and get it
Underground before it evaporates, it can be done, but would probably
cost too much.

I hope that it rains soon.

Mike.

A pipeline from north to south has been talked about for decades with both major parties dithering, saying the cost would be prohibitive.
If they had gotten on with it way back then the cost would still be expensive, today? many billions of dollars.
Our Governments cry poor, but that was not the case when we signed the non defunct French submarine deal at a cost of $50 billion, which blew out to $90 billion.
The deal was cancelled by the new Labor Government. But we still paid 3 1/2 billion dollars for the failed project, 2.6 billion on preliminary works
and $830 compensation for ditching the deal.
Perth has a $400 million detention centre that has never been used.
Put the money to good use instead of throwing it away.
Our artesian water levels are dropping from overuse.
More dams need to be built. Yes, evaporation takes a lots of the water, but there would still be plentiful water.
Even in my home town in Tasmania , one of the wettest in Australia with 2400 mm rainfall each year we had water restrictions because there was one very small dam.
Perth is building it's third desalination plant, at a cost of $2.8 billion.
We seem to be having less rainfall and water security will be a major issue down the track.

 

[Bretrick]

I’d happily share our rain with you.

So kind of you. Send it south, now.

 

[PeppermintPatty]

So kind of you. Send it south, now.

Will do. Expect it soon.

 

[Warrigal]

That is good to Warrigal, I had the impression that
the rain water just sat on the surface until the sun
dried it up.

The exported TV is giving the wrong impression, but
I suppose drama sells better, than if all is well.

Mike.

Western Australia is geologically different to the eastern states. It has the oldest rock formations (shield rock formations) that are more impervious to water flow. They are, however, the source of valuable minerals that we mine and ship overseas. The iron ore deposits are particularly vast and give the surface rocks and soil their characteristic red colour. The east is rich in high quality thermal coal deposits that are much younger than the mineral riches of the west.