Water sector investments conventionally look only at
covering the costs of installing and running the physical
infrastructure that is required to divert, store and
distribute water to industries and people (such as pipes,
dams and water treatment plants). It misses the fact that
all of these water developments depend on natural
ecosystems such as forests, grasslands and wetlands,
because they ensure clean and regular water supplies,
and protect against water-related disasters – and are
often a far more cost-effective option than relying solely
on artificial infrastructure, or suffering the additional
expenditures and losses that occur when these
ecosystem services are lost.
We have been working with South Australia Water and
the University of South Australia to value catchments as
assets for the water sector, so as to convince government
decision-makers of the wisdom of investing in their
conservation.
covering the costs of installing and running the physical
infrastructure that is required to divert, store and
distribute water to industries and people (such as pipes,
dams and water treatment plants). It misses the fact that
all of these water developments depend on natural
ecosystems such as forests, grasslands and wetlands,
because they ensure clean and regular water supplies,
and protect against water-related disasters – and are
often a far more cost-effective option than relying solely
on artificial infrastructure, or suffering the additional
expenditures and losses that occur when these
ecosystem services are lost.
We have been working with South Australia Water and
the University of South Australia to value catchments as
assets for the water sector, so as to convince government
decision-makers of the wisdom of investing in their
conservation.
| counting catchments as water assets in Australia |
 |  |
© Environment Management Group 2012
