A new book about Australian groundwater, soil and water has been published by geologist Philip John Brown, and aims to inform the general population about the importance of one of our most valuable resources – groundwater.
Brown told The Echo, ‘The general thrust of Australian Hydrogeology is to illustrate that in a human life cycle, water, particularly groundwater, is a nonrenewable resource’.
Groundwater contamination
‘Groundwater resources are shrinking astronomically, and groundwater contamination is the biggest threat to current groundwater stores’.
The self-published book is presented in a coffee table format, with plenty of high quality photos and diagrams.
Brown says he would like the book to inform future generations.
‘I am a “green geologist”, or what is termed as an environmental geologist, with a view to saving our water’, he said.
‘For example, the oldest water in the Great Artesian Basin is two million years old, yet water usage and contamination give this resource a short life span.’
Chapters include reviews of the Snowy Hydro Scheme, Ord River Schemes, Rum Jungle Uranium copper project, Coal Seam Gas (CSG), climate change and salinity.
Brown says CSG is threatening the Great Artesian Basin. Another potential threat, he says, is the carbon storage proposal. ‘I don’t think carbon storage will work’, he says.
‘While the basin slowly recharges, it can’t keep up with human use. We are heading towards what the US has now – open toxic pits of contaminated water and soil, and areas that are unable to be farmed. CSG also produces a lot of methane’.
Another issue that farmers already face, says Brown, is salinity.
‘Once it reaches the surface, it ruins the land for agriculture, killing off the grass. This is likely to increase dramatically up to 2050 and beyond’, he says, and is a result of ‘misusing groundwater and cropping techniques’.
And while ‘huge swathes of Australia are affected’, he says governments are not taking it seriously. ‘Instead they appear to be accepting it’.
Salinity, land clearing
‘Land clearing is also a major problem, given trees keep salt and the water table contained’.
Brown says he has connections to the Byron Shire as he attended Mullum primary and Mullum high school.
‘I am the son of John and Frances Brown. John Brown worked for Mullum Municipality Council, and for a time with Byron Shire Council. He was the health and building surveyor for Mullumbimby’.
To get a copy of the book, email [email protected].
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