Canberra
9.3 Groundwater discharge

This line item refers to the volume of water that naturally discharges from the water table aquifer and underlying aquifers to the surface water system. This process occurs in the Canberra region, but the volume could not be quantified due to the lack of both data and a suitable quantification approach. In Canberra the recharge is due largely to rainfall, while discharge generally is due to streams and evapotranspiration. Groundwater levels in the Australian Capital Territory are linked closely to recent rainfall within the region. As rainfall occurs, groundwater aquifers gradually recharge and discharge groundwater into the surface water system, increasing flow into creeks and rivers. The total rainfall over the Canberra region in 2012–13 year was below average compared to the long-term average rainfall. As such, it would be expected that the groundwater recharge and consequently the discharge to surface water would be comparatively lower in 2012–13.