Water Health Educator
Water Health Educator
Promoting advocacy for access to clean water
Issues: Australia and New Zealand
The Great Barrier Reef
(Australia)
by Marlena Bludzien
Coral reefs preserve some of the most diverse ecosystems on our planet. They’re incredibly beautiful and create habitat to fish, worms, clams and many other animals and plants. They provide protection to the shore from continuously increasing events like hurricanes and tsunamis, and generate income through attracting number of tourists. The coral reefs are also a valuable source of pharmaceutical compounds that are used in treating cancer, heart disease and many other illnesses. It is estimated that annual profit the coral reefs generate to people reaches almost $400 billion.
The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is the largest coral reef in the world. This amazing structure extends for almost 1,400 miles. According to the most recent reports, 64% of the Great Barrier Reef has been damaged by severe bleaching.
Reef bleaching occurs due to high temperature of water which causes heat stress and forces corals to eject tiny photosynthetic algae called zooxanthellae. Without zooxanthellae, the coral loses photosynthetic ability and can no longer synthesize nutrients vital to its survival.
Scientists attribute this violent change in temperature to global warming. The temperature of the planet has already increased by 1 degree Celsius in the past two decades and this is the first time in history that the Great Barrier Reef suffered such severe bleaching in two consecutive years. There is no doubt that devastation of coral is the effect of changing climate. According to Schleussner’s study “in a scenario with an end-of-century warming of 2 ◦C, virtually all tropical reefs are projected to be at risk of severe degradation due to temperature-induced bleaching.”
The coral reefs bleaching can have a detrimental effect on lives of millions of organisms. Because the process reduces the growth rate of coral, it can make the reefs more susceptible to diseases or even end their existence. Other marine organisms that feed on live coral and depend on it for shelter will also die if the bleaching continues. The socioeconomic consequences encompass loss of shoreline protection, loss of income generated from tourism and medical supplying. Saving the corals will require advanced limiting of the Earth’s warming. An extensive review of the possible actions can be found in the Schleussner’s report.
New Zealand contributes 3% of all the milk in the whole world. As well dairy farming is one of New Zealand’s primary industry export which regulates 46% of the whole economy. Dairy farming takes up about 1.7 million hectares, which are the homes for 4.9 million cows. Economically it is mind boggling to see how milk can power almost half of New Zealand’s economy. However, environmentally cows are one of the main source of New Zealand’s water pollution.
A single dairy cow can produce 120 pounds of waste every day, which equals to two dozen people. 200 cows can produce a massive amount of nitrogen as a sewage from a community of 5,000 to 10,000 people. Too much nitrogen and phosphorus cause excessive weed growth, slime and algae, as well affecting insects, fish and water bird population. Kevin Hackwell from Forest and Bird in New Zealand coined the dairy consumption as a “white gold rush, which is leading New Zealand to a freshwater quality disaster”. If this practice continues, then the fishing and recreational use of water would pummel.
The Waitakere City Council also stated that dairy farm especially, can contribute to high levels of bacteria and pathogens, as well remaining waste would end up on the shore of the docks. Fecal waste would wander into rivers and stream, which are sources for drinking water; however, consequently it would discharge into the sea. The New Zealand’s government is quite aware of these ecological disruptions, however their main goal is to double agricultural output by 2025.
Fish & Game Chief Executive Bryce Johnson stated that as the government and private sectors are more focused on economy than environmentally; the waterways, estuaries, and beaches, New Zealand’s tourism sector, international brand and kiwi will be greatly impacted. Or the people can look for a smarter way to grow an environmentally friendly economy.
There has been a study that was published in 2004 which applied water quality data from 1996 to 2002, where in the findings that lowland rivers and streams through pastoral lands were polluted. In 2011 the National Policy Statement for Fresh Water (NPSFW) report gives different findings ranging from groundwater to freshwaters, and lakes. As well there are five key areas that are needed for improvement: stock exclusion from waterways, nutrient management, effluent management, water use, and riparian management. There is no denial that New Zealand indeed has a large environmental problem, however as of now and the near future, dairy industries should “approach partnerships with regional councils other stakeholders” for the betterment of the water and environment.
Endangered Marine Animals in Australia
by Jeffrey Clayton
Endangered Marine Animals in Australia.pdf (PDF — 192 KB)
Beneath the Smoke: The 2019-2020 Bushfire in Australia
By Nora Rideg
Bushfires are frequent occurrences in Australia due to the continent's generally hot and dry climate. They are responded to by fire services all around the country, with estimates between 45,000 and 60,000 incidents being recorded on average in any single year. The 2019-2020 bushfire season was unprecedented, impacting many communities and leading to property damages, loss of lives, and environmental degradation. One of the often overlooked yet critical consequences of bushfires is their impact on water quality. The aftermath of these fires, including ash runoff, soil erosion, sedimentation, and pollutants washing into rivers and lakes, significantly changes the chemistry of water bodies, posing severe risks to both the environment and human health.
The first major bushfires in Australia started in June 2019, with new fires emerging in early September. The situation worsened in November due to rising temperatures and prolonged drought. Mid-January 2020 brought heavy rains, providing some relief but not enough to extinguish the fires completely. The crisis escalated again in early February with high temperatures, persistent drought, and strong winds. After a heavy rainstorm in mid-February, firefighters managed to contain all the fires in New South Wales, although fires continued to burn in Victoria. By March 4, 2020, all fires had been either extinguished or contained, ending a nine-month-long bushfire crisis.
Bushfires significantly impact on water quality in Australia by destroying vegetation that typically stabilizes the soil, leading to increased soil and clay runoff into water bodies during rainfall. This inflow of materials degrades water quality in several ways. Ash and burnt plant matter introduce additional nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, into the water, which bacteria consume, depleting oxygen levels and creating conditions that can lead to fish deaths and other ecological disruptions. Additionally, the extra sediment increases turbidity from runoff, reducing water clarity and obstructing light penetration, which is necessary for photosynthesis in aquatic plants. These changes can result in blackwater events, further reducing oxygen levels and exacerbating the stress on aquatic life. The impact on water quality varies depending on factors such as fire intensity, the characteristics of the catchment area, and post-fire rainfall patterns, with heavy rains exacerbating water quality issues by causing significant runoff sediments and ash into waterways.
In addition to that, bushfire-affected water entering dams can further worsen water quality by mixing ash and sediment with stored water, leading to decreased dissolved oxygen levels, and an increased risk of algal blooms. There are metals present in ash such as manganese, iron, copper, and zinc, which can be harmful in high concentrations. Bushfires can harm water supply infrastructure and water catchments, disrupting the treatment processes necessary to make water safe to drink. Short-term risks include loss of power, which disables crucial water treatment processes like chlorine disinfection, and may lead to untreated river water being fed directly into drinking systems. This can introduce harmful bacteria and parasites, such as giardia and cryptosporidium, resulting in gastrointestinal illnesses. Additionally, long-term risks arise from damaged water catchments, where heavy rain can wash ash and erode soil into waterways, increasing nutrient concentrations and promoting cyanobacteria growth. The impacts on catchments from bushfires can degrade untreated drinking water quality for many years, posing significant challenges to water management.
The 2019-2020 bushfires in Australia had a devastating impact on biodiversity, burning vast tracts of land and affecting a staggering number of native species. More than 3 billion vertebrates, including approximately 143 million mammals, 2.46 billion reptiles, 181 million birds, and 51 million frogs, were affected. Numerous species of beetles, crayfish, flies, snails, and spiders were completely wiped out in New South Wales. Additionally, the impact extended to aquatic ecosystems as well. Ash settling into rivers and lakes led to bacteria consuming the carbon in the ash, depleting dissolved oxygen in the water. This created an inhospitable environment for most aquatic plants and animals, as evidenced by significant fish kill events in the Murray Darling Basin. Increased sediment and ash threatening species like brown and rainbow trout, which are already at the edge of their temperature tolerance in Australia. Native species such as the river blackfish, which require vegetated streams, also faced severe habitat loss.
The Australian bushfire not only affected ecosystem but also impacted human health due to the production of various toxic substances and smoke. These fires exposed large populations to hazardous air pollutants, including carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide, ozone, particulate matter, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and volatile organic compounds. The intense smoke led to an estimated 5% increase in non-accidental deaths on days with high pollution levels. People near the fires, such as firefighters and residents, faced significant risks from CO and other toxic components, which could cause unconsciousness and even death. The fine particulate matter from the smoke was particularly dangerous as it could enter the bloodstream, leading to cardiovascular issues, blocked blood circulation, and respiratory problems such as bronchitis, asthma, reduced lung function, and premature death.
Additionally, the psychological impact was significant, with increased reports of mental health issues among those affected by the fires. The widespread smoke caused a surge in hospitalizations for respiratory conditions, especially among vulnerable populations like children, elderly and pregnant women.
Effective water management after a bushfire involves ensuring the safety and quality of drinking water and minimizing further impacts on waterways. According to the NSW Rural Fire Service and National Parks and Wildlife Service, immediate actions following a bushfire are necessary to protect water catchments and treatment infrastructure, including installing erosion and sediment control measures to prevent debris from contaminating water bodies, erecting silt fences and hay bales, planting vegetation to stabilize soils, and rehabilitating control lines and access tracks. Restoration efforts should prioritize burnt riverbank vegetation zones, and instream floating booms and silt curtains can help limit ash and sediment dispersion in sensitive waterways. Additionally, a targeted water quality monitoring program is essential in areas with vulnerable receptors.
References:
Australia’s bushfires “made 30% more likely by climate change.” University of Oxford. (2020, March 12). https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2020-03-12-australia-s-bushfires-made-30-more-likely-climate-change
Australian Government. (2023, December 20). Bushfires | murray–darling basin authority. https://www.mdba.gov.au/climate-and-river-health/water-quality-threats/bushfires
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2020). Australian bushfires 2019–20: exploring the short-term health impacts. Canberra: AIHW.
Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. Australian bushfires. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Australian-bushfires/629041
Haque, M. K., Azad, M. A. K., Hossain, M. Y., Ahmed, T., Uddin, M., & Hossain, M. M. (2021). Wildfire in Australia during 2019-2020, Its Impact on Health, Biodiversity and Environment with Some Proposals for Risk Management: A Review. Journal of Environmental Protection, 12(6), Article 6. https://doi.org/10.4236/jep.2021.126024
Guardian News and Media. (2020, January 9). Bushfires threaten drinking water – and the consequences could last for decades . The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jan/09/bushfires-threaten-drinking-water-safety-and-the-consequences-could-last-decades
Khan, J. (2020, January 8). Bushfires could kickstart a new crisis for Australia’s rivers. Our drinking water, rivers and fish will all feel the impact of bushfires, experts warn - ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2020-01-09/freshwater-ecosystems-water-catchment-bushfire-impact/11850826
NSW Government . (2020, February). Bushfire impacts on water quality . https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/-/media/epa/corporate-site/resources/water/20p2093-bushfire-impacts-on-water-quality.pdf
Understanding the effects of the 2019–20 Fires. NSW Environment and Heritage. (2024, January 10). https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/fire/park-recovery-and-rehabilitation/recovering-from-2019-20-fires/understanding-the-impact-of-the-2019-20-fires
2019-2020 Australian bushfires. Center for Disaster Philanthropy. (2022, June 9). https://disasterphilanthropy.org/disasters/2019-australian-wildfires/