Monthly Water Update

Rainfall was average across 46 per cent of the area, spread throughout the drainage division and higher than average across 51 per cent of the area, mostly in the south. Total rainfall was 59 mm, 26 per cent higher than the long-term mean of 47 mm for January.

Streamflows were average for 51 per cent of the sites and higher than average for 23 per cent of the sites, spread throughout the drainage division. At three sites streamflows were the third highest for January since 1980. Mehi River at Moree had the lowest streamflow for January since 1980.

Median streamflow salinity (electrical conductivity) varied between sites from 29 to 6 530 μS/cm. Streamflows were high quality for 72 per cent of the sites, fresh for 12 per cent of the sites and brackish for six per cent of the sites. Burra Creek at Worlds End (Low Flow) and Currency Creek Near Peel Road Cemetery had the highest salinity of all the reporting sites. High salinity in the Burra Creek at Worlds End (Low Flow) is due to discharge from unconfined aquifers.

During January, storage volumes increased in three systems, decreased in 12 and remained stable in three. By the end of the month, the volume of water stored was 51 per cent of the total accessible capacity, which is 25 percentage points higher than the previous year.