Climate change has become one of the biggest issues of today. This is one of the direct results of global warming and has been affecting life on Earth for years. The issue has been on the rise for decades, with studies proving that countries like Australia have warmed by an average of 1.44 ± 0.24 °C ever since the national records started in 1910.
However, climate change doesn’t just affect the temperature. Rather, it is also affecting the water quality. Studies prove that there is an inextricable link between climate change and water. It shows how weather issues are affecting the water and making it polluted, scarce, and unpredictable.
Well, it is essential for one to understand these effects of climate change on water quality, so that they can get water testing in time. This is why in this blog, we will focus on the different ways climate change is affecting water quality in Australia. This will help you understand why these effects are severe and why Australians, policymakers, farmers, and industries should care before it’s too late.
Ways That Climate Change is Affecting Water Quality in Australia
Water is the source of life, so any changes in its quality can have a huge impact on the entire ecosystem. Some of the ways that it is affecting water quality in Australia are:
1. Increased Water Temperatures and Algal Blooms
Climate change is one of the biggest contributors to algal blooms as it results in increased water temperature. Warming water creates the ideal temperature conditions for fast algal growth. This results in the growth of many harmful species like cyanobacteria, dinoflagellates, and others, which thrive in warm water.
Besides that, this increase in water temperature also leads to water stratification, which happens because warm surface water is less dense than cooler deeper water. This stratification traps the algae in the sunlit and the warm surface layer provides ample light for photosynthesis.
This setup prevents oxygen-rich surface water from reaching the deeper layers where fish and the rest of the ecosystem lie. The algae die and sink, and then their decomposition by bacteria continues to consume a large amount of dissolved oxygen.
This leads to a situation that becomes tough for marine life to survive in, affecting the entire ecosystem. So, it becomes essential to get the issue fixed with the help of environmental consultants.
2. Reduced River Flows and Higher Pollutant Concentrations
Climate change is said to result in drought-like conditions in the Australian waters. Studies show that climate change is playing its part in affecting the water resources and streamflow in Australia. Southern Australia is receiving much less rainfall in the cooler months in comparison to the previous years.
The increase in temperature caused by climate change is leading an increased evapotranspiration, which has become another reason behind the lowered streamflow. However, the issue doesn’t end here. This lower flow means there is less water to dilute pollutants that enter the rivers from non-point sources like agricultural runoffs and urban stormwater.
A situation like this is the reason why the salinity in water is increasing, the waterways are losing their capacity to hold dissolved oxygen, and the concentration of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus is increasing, among others.
This, in the end, is severely impacting agriculture and rural water supplies as the water availability is decreased, salinity and nutrient load are increased, leading to a greater risk of water contamination.
3. More Intense Flooding Leading to Runoff Pollution
A warmer atmosphere tends to hold more water vapor in comparison to a cooler atmosphere. This results in heavier and shorter-duration rainfall, which is more damaging in urban areas with surfaces like roads and buildings. This makes it tough for the rainfall to infiltrate quickly, leading to flash flooding and runoff.
This flood-like situation picks up different types of pollutants from the cities, farms, and industrial areas, like oil, heavy metals, plastics, organic matter, and even fertilizers. As a result, this overwhelms the waterways and impacts the ecosystem, leading to low-oxygen waters and massive fish kills.
So, before the situation escalates, it is best to sort the situation with the help of an environmental consultant.
4. Ocean Acidification and Coastal Water Quality Decline
Climate change automatically increases the atmospheric CO2 absorption by the oceans. As it does that carbonic acid gets formed, which increases the acidic level of the water and lowers the pH level. As a result, it makes it hard for organisms like corals, shellfish, and plankton to build their shells and skeletons, as it requires the carbonate ions, which are reduced due to ocean acidification. This way, the situation becomes tough for marine life to grow, survive, and reproduce.
Well, Ocean acidification is directly linked to coastal water quality, so even that gets declined in the process. The increased acidity harms marine life, which disrupts the nutrient cycles and impacts the food webs and human health in the process.
5. Bushfire Ash and Sediment Contamination
Climate damage has been one of the biggest factors responsible for increasing the frequency and intensity of bushfires in Australia. Higher temperatures and prolonged droughts create drier conditions and increase fuel loads. This results in severe and extensive fires, which lead to a large ash and remove protective cover from the vegetation.
The ash, debris, and sediments enter the rivers & dams, making it hard to achieve drinking water from them. As a result, the complexity of the drinking water treatment increases, which means more expense for the company. So, it is better to perform water testing in the first place to get a better idea of what needs to be done.
What Australia Can Do
If Australians want to stop the effects of climate change on water, then they will be required to follow these adaptation and mitigation strategies.
- Improving monitoring & early warning systems.
- Investing in water treatment technology upgrades.
- Protecting catchments & wetlands.
- Sustainable agricultural practices.
- Stronger climate policies & emissions reduction.
In Summation
Climate change is real, and so are its effects on the water quality in Australia. From increasing water temperature and algal blooms to reducing river flow and from creating more intense flooding to ocean acidification and even bushfire ash and sediment contamination, this leads to a series of things that affect the water quality.
So, before it’s too late, it is essential for Australians to seek the assistance of environmental consultants. This will help in understanding the quality of water and simplify the process of remediation.
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