Sydney
Future

Table 1 shows that there is a surplus of available water assets over water liabilities and future water commitments that are expected to be settled within 12 months of the reporting date.

The expected diversions and extractions are based on the average of abstractions made during the 2010 and 2011 Accounts. Surface water allocation diversions for the urban system have been sourced from line item 17.12.  Other surface water allocation diversions from line items 17.6, 17.11 and 17.16. However, the actual available storage over the next 12 months will be influenced by a number of factors such as climate, actual diversions and available volume in storages.

Desalinated water supply to Sydney Water Corporation's distribution system: Sydney's desalination plant at Kurnell has the capacity to produce 91,250 ML per year (Sydney Water Corporation).
As 77,102 ML of desalinated water was transferred into the Sydney Region, the remaining production capacity of desalinated water at Kurnell (14,148 ML) can be considered a contingent water asset.
More details on Sydney's desalinated water supply are provided in Other water resources in the Contextual Statement.

Water for urban use (1,022,865 ML): The New South Wales Office of Water (NoW) issues licences to abstract water from rivers in the Sydney region. Urban utilities maintain water within its distribution pipes and storages for the delivery of water to customers but the actual delivery of water is determined by the customers when they turn on the tap. The volume of 1,022,865 ML is an upper limit on the water that could be supplied to urban utilities, however this volume can be subject to restrictions depending on climatic conditions in the region and the availability of water during that year. Restrictions are determined by NoW.  Based on an average of diversions from the 2010 and 2011 Accounts, it is estimated that approximately 470,000 ML will need to be delivered in the 2011–12 year.