Which lists the most critical factor in australia’s water crisis? due to minerals leaching downriver from the outback, the water in southern australia has become acidic enough to eat through pipes. aboriginal australians have a deep cultural understanding of efficient water usage, but european australians often disregard them. australia is the world’s driest continent and was already in a serious drought when its citizens began conservation measures. australia is a large continent with most of its population living along the seacoast, where many have access to only salt water.