Pumping begins to prevent SA lake turning acidic
file photo before
http://images.google.com.au/images?q=lake+albert+south+australia&um=1&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&start=20&sa=N&ndsp=20
now
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/17/2219656.htm
Water will be pumped from Lake Alexandrina to Lake Albert every day
for almost six months to help reduce a build up of acidity. (ABC News)
* Audio: SA Water Minister Karlene Maywald tells Nance Haxton of
the condition of the Murray's lower lakes. (ABC News)
* Map: Goolwa 5214
A desperate attempt has started to help the lower Murray lakes in
South Australia, with the pumping of huge amounts of water into Lake
Albert to prevent the soil from turning into sulphuric acid.
State Water Security Minister Karlene Maywald says the lower lakes are
suffering so much from record low flows into the River Murray that
Lake Albert is on the verge of ecological collapse.
"There's just no enough water getting down to the end of the system to
maintain a healthy system," she said.
"That's why we've instigated the pumping project to keep a sufficient
body of water to prevent the acid sulphate soils turning the water
acid.
"The short term measure will buy us some time but some decisions need
to be made regarding getting water into or down to this system and
they need to be made soon."
The water pumping plan, agreed to at the Murray-Darling Ministerial
Council in March, will see 400 megalitres pumped from Lake Alexandrina
to Lake Albert every day for almost six months to help reduce a build
up of acidity.
But Ms Maywald admits it will only refresh the lake tem****arily, and
good rain is what is needed to help in the long term.
Tags: water-pollution, rivers, sa, adelaide-5000, goolwa-5214, murray-
bridge-5253, renmark-5341
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