Last modified on Sun 14 Feb 2021 01.59 EST
This is the township of Menindee’s drinking water supply.
The pool behind weir 32 that provides water to the township of 600 turned green in January and a thick slime now covers up to a third of its surface.
WaterNSW has declared a red alert for toxic blue-green algae blooms at the weir, and for the lower Darling/Baarka for the 400km to its junction with the Murray.
The warnings advise people to avoid contact with the water. While the town has some filtration on its town water, it still smells bad. Those on properties and in small towns further south cannot safely drink the water, and there are warnings to monitor livestock.
Fresh flow down Darling River brings mixed feelings at Wilcannia amid calls for pumping rule review
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Water spilling over the Wilcannia town weir on January 31.
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A fresh flow down the Darling (Baaka) River has brought mixed feelings to locals in Wilcannia, New South Wales, who say celebrations will be short lived.
Key points:
Wilcannia local says small, infrequent flows only serve to remind them of the lamentable state of the Darling
Up to 20 gigalitres of water are expected to reach the town
Lower Darling communities are calling for an urgent review of the pumping rule
Murray-Darling Basin plan will need overhaul in 2026 as droughts increase, report says msn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Last modified on Mon 14 Dec 2020 11.32 EST The impact of climate change on the Murray-Darling Basin will require a major adaption of the plan in 2026 to allow for more frequent dry periods, which will likely occur on average every five years instead of every 10.
The assessment of the climate risk facing the Murray-Darling Basin plan is included as part of the 2020 review of the progress on the plan, released on Tuesday.
The Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) is not proposing to alter the plan before its final review date in 2024 but the progress report has flagged that further adaptations to water use are inevitable.