Perth Laboratory - Public Seminar Series 2005

What price water? An economics perspective on the Integrated Water Supply System

Dr Donna Brennan
Water Economist,
Water for a Healthy Country Flagship

Thursday 20 October 3.30pm, CSIRO Auditorium

Abstract

The Integrated Water Supply Scheme supplies water to metropolitan Perth, as well as towns in the South West, the central wheatbelt and the Goldfields. Restrictions on water use and advertising campaigns have been used in recent years to keep demand within the available supplies, and construction of a desalination plant to augment supply commenced earlier this year (the first major desalination plant for urban supply in Australia).

But how scarce is water really? The talk will address some of the economic issues surrounding the apparent supply crisis in the IWSS. In particular, the effect of current governance arrangements on supply augmentation options and the economic and welfare impacts of water pricing will be discussed.

About the Speaker

Dr Donna Brennan is an economist who joined CSIRO Land and Water in March 2003. She has a background in agricultural and environmental economics, and in economic regulation. Prior to moving back to WA she worked on water issues in the Murray Darling Basin and in the coastal catchments of NSW. She leads the Perth Water Systems project in the Water for a Healthy Country National Research Flagship.

For further details contact Jackie Walsh (08) 9333 6380
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