Welcome to the University of New South Wales Connected Waters web site

Australia is often said to be the driest inhabited continent on Earth, but that's only because of its low rainfall. In fact, we have massive reserves of the most precious of natural resources right beneath our feet in our groundwater. Bore water, for example, from the Great Artesian Basin made it possible to open up vast inland areas for grazing livestock. Natural springs provide the millions of bottles of mineral water we consume every year. Groundwater makes it possible to grow many of our crops and pastures. And we're looking increasingly to aquifers to provide drinking water for our growing towns and cities.

Groundwater is found in the voids between sediment grains in the subsurface. It can flow slowly like a river through aquifers or pool in great underground "lakes". Although hidden from view it is intimately connected with the rivers, streams, creeks, ponds, lakes and wetlands we can see above ground. So, effective water management must consider surface water and groundwater as "connected" - a single resource.

Australia has doubled its groundwater use in recent decades. It now makes up more than one-fifth of all the water we harvest. Yet we don't know enough about the many and complex interactions between groundwater and surface water. In many cases, we're still treating them as if they were separate resources and we know far too little about how to manage them sustainably.

The UNSW Connected Waters Initiative aims to help fill this critical gap in our knowledge through research, teaching and public education. It is jointly supported by the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Engineering in recognition of the vital roles that both knowledge and technology can play in better understanding and managing Australia's water resources.

UNSW has recently become a key part of the National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training (NCGRT). The Australian Research Council and National Water Commission funded the NCGRT led by Flinders University and research partners around the nation. An outline of the research undertaken by UNSW since July 2009 can be found here.

This site is a window into the UNSW Connected Waters Initiative, with general information for students and members of the public, and technical information for professionals in the field. It has been developed thanks to the generosity of our sponsor, Mr Gary Johnston, CEO of Jaycar Electronics.