5.9.2  Regional areas

SA currently uses approximately 1,200 GL of water each year for household use, agriculture, business, recreation, and industry. Of this total, regional SA uses approximately 50 GL each year from mains drinking water supply.

Central Irrigation Trust (CIT), a private company located 220 km north-east of Adelaide, is responsible for the management of 12 irrigation districts in the Riverland and Lower Murray region of SA. It manages and administers 12 irrigation trusts (Berri, Cadell, Chaffey, Cobdogla, Golden Heights, Kingston, Loxton, Lyrup, Moorook, Mypolonga, Sunlands and Waikerie) on the River Murray or its anabranches in SA. Each of the 12 irrigation districts is owned by its irrigators, and CIT manages and operates the irrigation systems on behalf of the districts.464 In 2012-13, the total volume of water supplied by CIT to its customers was120.7 GL. The total area serviced by its supply networks is 15,483 ha, including 13,000 ha of irrigated land.

Groundwater desalination plants have been proposed to supply regional townships where salinity is affecting water quality.

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464.  Central Irrigation Trust (2014), p. 23