The Adelaide region

Annual rainfall across the Adelaide region was generally close to average for the 2011–12 year. This rainfall contributed to decreased inflows into the region's storages. The volume of water held in storages decreased during the 2011–12 year by 39,733 ML. Closing net water assets in the Adelaide region was 183,060 ML, compared to 223,633 ML at the end of the 2010–11 year. For more information on the region's water assets refer to Water accounting statements.

The Adelaide desalination plant started production, increasing the diversity of water sources available to supply the urban water system. During the year, desalinated water represented 3% of the water supplied to the urban water system, surface water harvested from the Adelaide region's catchment 66% and water imported from the River Murray 31%. Supply from the urban water system and irrigation scheme also increased compared to the 2010–11 year.

The key water account information for Adelaide is presented in the following table. Information on the uncertainty associated with the volumes presented in the table is provided in the relevant sections of the account.

Key water account information for the Adelaide region during the 2011–12 year

Contextual information: Climate overview

	2011–12	2010–11	Long–term average (1900–2011)
	Rainfall: 569 mm	Rainfall: 778 mm	Rainfall: 576 mm
	Evapotranspiration: 560 mm	Evapotranspiration: 664 mm	Evapotranspiration: 565 mm
For more detail on the Adelaide climate refer to Climate overview.

Contextual information: Water overview

	Myponga River	North Para River	Onkaparinga River
	Below mean annual flow	Below mean annual flow	Below mean annual flow
For more detail on streamflow in the Adelaide region refer to Water overview.

Water accounting statements

		2011–12	2010–11
	Total water assets (as at 30 June)	190,077	228,582
	Total water liabilities (as at 30 June)	7,018	4,948
	Change in net water assets	-40,575	24,289
	Closing net water assets	183,059	223,634
For more detail on water assets and water liabilities refer to Water accounting statements.

Notes: Water resources and systems

Surface water storage

		30 June 2012		30 June 2011
	Total capacity	Volume	% of capacity	Volume	% of capacity
	197,871 ML	97,182 ML	49%	136,915 ML	69%
For more detail on surface water in the Adelaide region refer to Surface water.

Water abstractions

	Total water abstracted
	2011–12	2010–11	Recent activity
	Surface water: 104,445 ML	Surface water: 96,927 ML	Surface water abstractions and licensed groundwater abstractions have increased
	Groundwater1: 17,379 ML	Groundwater2: 44,608 ML
	1Includes only licensed abstractions	2Includes 15,019 ML of licensed and 29,589 ML of unlicensed abstractions
For more detail on water abstraction in the Adelaide region refer to Surface water and Groundwater.

Urban water supply

	Total water supplied
	2011–12	2010–11	Recent activity
	152,392 ML	141,264 ML	The desalination plant started operation
For more detail on the urban water system in the Adelaide region refer to Urban water system.

Irrigation scheme supply

	Total water supplied
	2011–12	2010–11	Recent activity
	21,541 ML	18,531 ML	Supply of recycled water and River Murray water have increased
For more detail on the irrigation scheme in the Adelaide region refer to Irrigation scheme.