July 4, 2011
Untapped Potential: Better protecting rivers at lower cost
The costs of addressing the problem of damaging over-abstraction under current arrangements are estimated to be huge, and it could take decades or even centuries to achieve sustainable abstraction at the current rate of progress. The absence of an effective strategy for achieving sustainable abstraction levels causes uncertainty for abstractors and increases water supply costs. Untapped Potential identifies reforms to regulatory arrangements for abstraction and water supply, to better protect rivers and natural environments at lower costs.