Dig deep for water

An unhealthy statistic has thrown Sydney's water shortage back into the spotlight -- today our total supply reached an all-time low of just 37.5 per cent of capacity.

Feeling the heat, the state government spat out another possible alternative source -- abandoned and operating mines. There's a possible 50 gig hidden away down there and all that's standing between that and our taps is. . .a government investigation into the cost of removing and treating it.

First it was desal, then the wonderful aquifers at Leonay and Kangaloon, and now it's this. The water policy tap seems to be turning very slowly.

In south-east Queensland where supply is below 25 per cent, there will be a referendum about using recycled water next March, but nothing on that scale is being talked about here. Maybe we'll start doing that when our dams reach a quarter of their capacity.

Or maybe we should all just look on Mars. Don't laugh -- it could be possible.

Some of that possible Martian water. Marvin says it's top drop. Source: Associated Press