The Water Corporation wants to ensure that Perth and surrounding areas can adapt to the drying climate and ensure enough water for future generations. 

A major finding as a result of the work undertaken by Water Forever is the need for a portfolio approach to address increasing water demand, with less rainfall. To do this we will need to reduce water consumption, recycle more and develop new sources to supplement existing supplies.

Simply developing new sources of water will not be enough to sustain Perth and surrounding areas, particularly if the climate continues to dry as projected. A concerted effort to reduce water use is crucial to making Perth and surrounding areas more climate resilient.

The Water Corporation sees this transition to climate resilience as a shared journey, working in partnership with the community.

Thinking 50 years ahead

Water Forever: Towards Climate Resilience is a 50-year plan that looks at the challenge of providing water:

• in an even drier climate;
• with twice as many people; and
• with less environmental impact.

Based on work completed by the CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology, over the next 50 years the south west of Western Australia is expected to experience further declines in rainfall due to climate change. This will have a significant impact on water availability for households, business and industry, local government, mining and agriculture. In the 50-year plan, the Water Corporation has adopted a climate scenario that projects:

• a 20% decline in rainfall by 2030; and
• a 40% decline in rainfall by 2060.

If rainfall reductions of this magnitude occur, the overall area of irrigated land in Perth and surrounding areas will need to reduce. Over time, it is expected that this will alter the way our gardens, public parks and ovals are landscaped to adapt to these changing conditions.