Why are River Murray salinity levels rising?
The groundwater below the River Murray is naturally saline. The Murray Darling Basin is mostly flat, has low rainfall and high evaporation levels and, over time, salt has concentrated in the groundwater and on the floodplain and has not been flushed downstream to the ocean. Before European settlement, native vegetation helped keep the river in balance. Clearing and replacing of deep-rooted native plants with shallow rooted annual crops, irrigation, and river regulation (i.e. control of the river by a series of weirs and dams) have all contributed to an increase in saline groundwater seeping into the river, and with very low flows to dilute these inflows, local salinity levels can rise to high levels. How does salinity affect town water supplies? High salinity causes drinking water to taste saltier. More soap and detergent is needed for washing. Salt corrodes water delivery systems (such as hot water systems, pipes and plumbing fittings) and they need to be replaced more often. Industri
