The Environment Protection Authority's Mount Lofty Ranges Watershed
Protection Office (WPO) was created following a series of water
quality incidents in South Australia in 1998. Pesticides and pathogens
that could cause disease were discovered in some of the reservoirs
that supply most South Australians with drinking water.
The EPA prepared a report The State
of Health of the Mount Lofty Ranges Catchments from a water quality
perspective (2000) (2.6MB PDF), which
showed that there was no single source of contamination that could
be tackled and resolved in the short term. A long-term approach
was needed for planning, development, remedial works, improved
land management practices, and better wastewater management.
What the WPO achieved up to June 2003, is shown in the Mount
Lofty Ranges Watershed Protection Office Status Report June 2003
(1.5MB PDF). The WPO continues to undertake
projects and works that assist in protecting and improving the
water resources in the Mount Lofty Ranges watershed through our
own efforts and by working with our partners.
As the quality of River Murray water has declined and the demand
for water has grown, so has the importance of the quality and
security of water from the Mount Lofty Ranges watershed increased.
The WPO is even more important today than when originally established.
Peter Cullen, one of Adelaide's Residents in Thinking in 2004
reaffirmed the importance of the water resource in the Mount Lofty
Ranges and the works of the WPO. To learn more about what he said
view his final report Water
Challenges for South Australia in the 21st Century. His works
helped to ensure ongoing support and funding for the WPO beyond
its original five-year program.
The South Australian Government has also shown support for Peter
Cullen's works and point of view as seen in their response
to his report.
