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Salinity and Water Quality of the Murray-Darling Basin

Salinity and Water Quality of the Murray-Darling Basin. By Mariah & Tyler (the definition of awesomeness). What is meant by ‘Salinity’ and ‘Water Quality’?.

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Salinity and Water Quality of the Murray-Darling Basin

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  1. Salinity and Water Quality of the Murray-Darling Basin By Mariah & Tyler (the definition of awesomeness)

  2. What is meant by ‘Salinity’ and ‘Water Quality’? Salinity refers to the increased accumulation of excessive salts in land and water at sufficient levels to impact on human and natural assets. ( plants, animals, aquatic ecosystems, water supplies, agriculture and infrastructure). Water quality is a term used to describe the biological, chemical and physical characteristics of water and its general composition. These attributes effect water’s ability to sustain life and its suitability for human consumption.

  3. Geographic Characteristics of the Salinity in the Murray Darling Basin • The salinity increase in the Murray-Darling Basin is highly visible due to the increase in Saltbush in some areas, especially in Burtundy, the saltiest area of the Murray Darling Basin. • The general symptoms of an area being highly saline are: • White salt crystals appearing on the surface of the soil. • Surface soil may appear moist and greasy. • Uneven and poor plant growth in the area. • Clay soils may appear loose and crumbly.

  4. The other visible symptoms of a saline environment are: • The smell of salt in the area • Salt-affected plants have leaves that appear smaller and darker than normal. • Plants grow at a much slower rate • The tips of a plant’s leaves appear burnt until eventually the whole leaf turns yellow. • Animals will lick and graze the salty area. Saltbush in South Australia. This graph shows the salinity levels in the Murray-darling Basin as you get closer to the Murray Mouth. As shown, as you get closer to the Mouth the salinity levels dramatically increase, especially during a low water flow year.

  5. Distribution of Salinity in the Murray-Darling Basin As shown by the map, there is a clustered distribution of salt affected areas, with most of the areas being located on the east sides of the MDB, with the exception of the salt affected areas in the Lower Murray Mouth regions.

  6. This table shows the salinity levels of areas of the Murray-Darling Basin during 11th March to the 19th of March 2009. As you can see, due to low water flow, Burtundy is the most salt affected area, with an average of 630EC. (EC is the measurement used for salt levels). Water is said to be undrinkable at approximately 800EC. Taken from the Murray Darling Basin Commission.

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