Which lists the most critical factor in Australia’s water crisis?

a)Due to minerals leaching downriver from the Outback, the water in Southern Australia has become acidic enough to eat through pipes.
b)Australia is the world’s driest continent and was already in a serious drought when its citizens began conservation measures.
c)Aboriginal Australians have a deep cultural understanding of efficient water usage, but European Australians often disregard them.
c)Australia is a large continent with most of its population living along the seacoast, where many have access to only salt water.

Australia is the world’s driest continent and was already in a serious drought when its citizens began conservation measures.

Thank you so so much for all your help!!

Wang hang Ching Chang

The most critical factor in Australia's water crisis is b) Australia being the world's driest continent and already experiencing a serious drought when its citizens began conservation measures.

To determine the most critical factor in Australia's water crisis, we analyze the options provided:

a) The leaching of minerals downriver from the Outback causing the water in Southern Australia to become acidic enough to eat through pipes is a significant issue, but it may not be the most critical factor in the overall water crisis.

b) Australia being the world's driest continent and already facing a serious drought when its citizens started conservation measures establishes a strong argument for this being the most critical factor. The scarcity of water coupled with the existing drought conditions has a significant impact on water availability and usage.

c) While the disregard of efficient water usage practices by European Australians can contribute to the water crisis, this factor alone may not be the most critical.

d) The fact that Australia is a large continent with a majority of its population residing along the seacoast and having access only to saltwater is a crucial consideration. However, it does not directly address the water crisis itself.

Considering these points, option b) stands out as the most critical factor in Australia's water crisis. Australia's status as the driest continent, coupled with an existing drought when conservation efforts began, highlights the extreme scarcity of water that the country faces.