ABSTRACT
Because of a comprehensive drought response effort, Australian cities did not run out of water. This chapter draws on the experiences of a range of stakeholders including water utilities, government agencies, businesses, and communities across Australia to examine how this was achieved, as well as how these efforts could have been improved. From around 1997 to 2012, however, Australia endured the "Millennium Drought", which affected a larger area of Australia, and in many locations it lasted far longer than any previous drought on record. The Millennium Drought provided an opportunity to leverage community concern and political will for change and innovations in the way that urban water systems were managed and planned. Communication and public engagement on drought conditions and water savings programs were instrumental to success of water savings initiatives. During the Millennium Drought, Australian cities faced a significant issue that confronts all water-scarce urban regions: tension between investing in demand management programs and investing in water supply infrastructure.
