Over-watering of gardens and sports grounds, disruption of natural drainage lines, leakage from water, sewage and drainage pipes, and septic tanks all increase the amount of water entering the subsurface zone. Blayney, Boorowa, Canowindra, Condobolin, Cootamundra, Cowra, Crookwell, Dubbo, Forbes, Grenfell, Gunnedah, Harden-Murrumburrah, Junee, Lake Cargelligo, Leeton, Orange, Parkes, Queanbeyan, Tamworth, Wellington, Yass and Young among others. So, as salinity in a catchment worsens, the rivers become more salty over time. According to the Murray-Darling Basin Commission Salinity Audit, salinity is likely to rise to high levels in future in the Bogan, Castlereagh, Lachlan, and Macquarie and Namoi Rivers. For more information on the Salinity Audit, Visit the Murray-Darling Basin Commission's website .
Some industrial processes concentrate salt in they water they use.
In coal-fired power stations, water used for cooling is partly evaporated, which concentrates the salt in the water discharged from the coolers. Working coal mines need to manage saline water from groundwater seepage and from rainwater coming into contact with mine workings or spoil. Abandoned mines are a major source of salinity in some areas.