How does pollution effect the Murray River?

Answer 1

Most of the towns and cities along the Murray rely on it for their water supply. Even Adelaide relies on it for a portion of its supply. It is an important source of irrigation water for many farms, including dairy farms and orchards.

Answer 2

There is no such river as the Murray Darling River. They are two separate rivers.

All rivers are subject to pollution, and the Murray-Darling river system (consisting of two separate rivers, but one major system) is no exception. However, pollution is not a majorissue, and is of lower concern than salinity levels.

Answer 3

The Murray, together with its major tributary the Darling River, are two significant rivers in the southeastern quadrant of Australia. Along with their numerous tributaries, they form the Murray-Darling river system. This system feeds the Murray-Darling Basin, which covers 1 061 469 square kilometres, or about 14% of the Australian continent.

As a result, a very large part of Australia's most productive land relies on the Murray and Darling Rivers. The basin provides about 41% of the country's agriculture with water for crops such as cotton, rice and wheat. The problem is that rice and cotton require enormous amounts of water, and by redirecting the water for irrigiation, not only are cities and towns further downstream affected, but there is not enough freshwater flowing downstream to stop the increasing salinity problems of both rivers, particularly the Murray as it nears the coast.

Currently, the major problem facing the two main rivers and numerous tributaries of the Murray Darling basin is this rising salinity. This affects the vegetation and wildlife which are dependent on the Murray River. The water quality is severely depleted by the rising salinity, and this also results in land degradation. This is largely due to the extensive irrigation that has been carried out using the waters of the basin for many, many decades.

The introduction of the European carp has caused major problems for the Murray River. Whilst these fish are not dangerous to Australian wildlife, they are bottom-feeders and so muddy the waters of the river, as well as uprooting plants along the edges of the water and causing erosion of the riverbanks.

Of further environmental concerns to the Murray River, more so than the Darling, are man-made changes to the river. The locks, weirs and barrages which enable travel by watercraft up and down the river also change the natural flow of the river, and have therefore changed the ecosystem and environment of the river. Campers, holiday-makers in houseboats and others engaging in water sports, as well as land-developers, all have a detrimental effect on the Murray River.

Some of the issues surrounding the Murray River system, along with rising salinity levels in the lower reaches and lakes, are low water flows, equitable allocations for licence holders in all states, and plans by the SA government to allow seawater into the lower lakes or to regulate the flow by installing weirs to prevent the waters reaching the lower lakes. Communities in the areas around the lower lakes have vigorously defended the plans.

Answer 4

Agricultural Runoff. Not only does such runoff contain all kinds of substances, but it is difficult to control

Answer 5

it kills animals and plants living in the river and makes the water unsafe for drinking

Answer 6

the problem is that there is almost no water.

Answer 7

There isn't. Pollution is not the major threat to the Murray River. Increasing salinity levels are the major problem.