Australia Survived A 13-Year-Long Drought. Here's What California Can Learn.

The Christian Science Monitor: How Australians survived a 13-year drought by going low-tech

Southeastern Australia suffered through a massive, 13-year drought that only ended in 2009. And yet, the region made it through by adopting key water-conservation methods that the rest of the globe can now learn from.

One state that can certainly learn from Australia's success is California. The state is currently undergoing a record-breaking drought, with 58 percent of the state experiencing “exceptional drought." Many residents have come to rely on bottled water.

So how did Australia manage to find its way back? The answer is a lot simpler -- and a lot less expensive -- than some of the options being explored in California right now.

The solution came down to recycling and conservation, Christian Science Monitor's Todd Woody writes. Residents used rainwater tanks to collect water from their roofs and then used that water for households needs like flushing toilets. The government also provided money for residents to buy water-efficient washers, shower heads, toilets, etc. Restrictions were set on how often residents and businesses could water their lawns. Just using water-efficient appliances alone cut down Melbourne, Australia’s water consumption by 4 percent each year, Woody said.

When Australia's drought finally came to an end, Melbourne locals "were using half the amount of water they had when it began," Woody reports.

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