Living Within our Water Budget.
Water Budget is a term used to describe the parameters around how water can be used without continually drawing down the principle and "mining" the aquifer, which can result in wells going dry, or in cases like Thetis Island, drawing salt water into the aquifers and into wells that were historically fresh.
Once an aquifer becomes salty, it can take months, years or sometimes decades for the salt to be fully flushed out and the aquifer return to its original condition.
If you are someone who is using groundwater extensively, particularly for outdoor watering and irrigation, you may want to consider investing in, or expanding rainwater catchment and usage, and/or pursuing grey water catchment and reuse for outdoor applications.
David Slade
