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Australian Water Information Dictionary

surface water

Water that flows over or is stored on the surface of the earth. For the purpose of the National Water Account, surface water consists only of water connected, either seasonally or perennially, to the rivers and not yet abstracted for consumptive purpose. It includes water administered by jurisdictions and water stored in surface water storages. It excludes water in off-channel water, urban water systems and irrigation schemes.

This definition applies to:

• Glossary for Water status: National Water Account 2010
• Glossary for Water status: National Water Account 2011
• Glossary for Water status: National Water Account 2012-2017

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