Murray–Darling Basin
9.5 Point return from irrigation scheme
Supporting information
The volumetric value for the line item for the 2012–13 year was 212,773 ML. The line item represents point discharge of water from irrigation schemes into surface water within the Murray–Darling Basin (MDB) region. The line item includes overflows from irrigation scheme water supply channels, discharge of used irrigation water from irrigation scheme collection systems and other irrigation scheme point discharges.
Information on point returns from irrigation schemes was provided in this line item only for Murrumbidgee and Victorian Murray river systems within the Southern Basin. There was no measured data available for the other irrigation areas particularly in the Northern Basin within the MDB region. The details of the volume shown in the above table are as follows:
- the Coleambally irrigation area within Murrumbidgee NSW water resources plan area (43,193 ML)
- the Broken Creek irrigation system (10,889 ML) and Torrumbarry system (158,691 ML) within the Victorian Murray water resources plan area.
Quantification approach
Data source
Murray–Darling Basin Authority: water audit monitoring data received from New South Wales (24 March 2014) and Victoria (14 February 2014), and stored in the HYDRO database.
Provided by
Bureau of Meteorology (the Bureau).
Method
Assumptions, limitations, caveats and approximations
Nil.
Uncertainty information
The uncertainty estimate except for the returns in the Broken Creek irrigation system is +/– 5%. The uncertainty estimate for the Broken Creek irrigation system, is +/– 40%.