Murray–Darling Basin
Segment, State and Territory Summary
- Segment summary
- Segment water accounting statements
- Segment reconciliations
- Segment water assets
- Segment water availability
- Segment water diversion and extraction
- Segment environmental water provisions
- Segment water trade
- State and territory summary
- State and territory water assets
- State and territory water availability
- State and territory water diversion and extraction
- State and territory environmental water provisions
- State and territory water trade
Segment summary
The purpose of this note is to provide information on water accounting statements, water assets, water availablility, water diversion, water extraction and water trade for two segments: Northern and Southern Basin and whole of the Murray–Darling Basin (MDB) region. The segments and the State and Territory boundaries are shown in Figure 1.
More details on the two segments are included in General description, Surface water and Groundwater sections in the 'Contextual information'.
Figure 1 Northern and Southern Basin segments, state and territory boundaries for the Murray–Darling Basin region
Segment water accounting statements
Water accounting statements for the surface water store and groundwater store are available for the two segments, Northern and Southern Basin, plus consolidated statements for the whole MDB region under Water Resources and Systems (Tables 1 to 7) note.
Segment reconciliations
Tables 1 and 2 under the Reconciliations note present information on (1) reconciliation of closing water storage to total water assets for the two segments and whole region, and (2) reconciliation of the net change in water storage to the change in net water assets.
Segment water assets
Surface water net assets
Surface water net assets include storages, unregulated river, regulated river, lakes and wetlands, inter-region claim and other surface water asset volumes less any liabilities.
The information aligns with surface water assets provided in the ‘Supporting information’ note.
Information on surface water net water assets in Northern Basin, Southern Basin and the whole MDB region is provided in Figure 2 for 2013 and 2014 reporting years and as a downloadable table.
Figure 2 Surface water net assets for Northern Basin, Southern Basin and whole MDB region at 30 June 2013 and 2014
The Northern Basin shows a 35% decrease in net water assets between two years while the Southern Basin records a 4% decrease. The drought that severely affected northern MDB areas (see Climate overview) is the main reason for the differences noted for the two segments.
Groundwater net assets
Groundwater net assets are sustainable diversion limit volumes less any liabilities.
Information on groundwater net water assets in Northern Basin, Southern Basin and whole MDB region is provided in Figure 3 for 2013 and 2014 reporting years and as a downloadable table.
Figure 3 Groundwater net assets for Northern Basin, Southern Basin and whole MDB region at 30 June 2013 and 2014
Groundwater assets for the 2013–14 year are sustainable diversion limits based on information provided by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority. Asset information for 2012–13 year is based on permissible consumptive volumes. This transition has resulted in the differences between net water assets in two reported years as groundwater liability is a very small volume.
Segment water availability
Surface water
Total non-environmental surface water availability comprises of water available under basic rights, non-allocated diversions and allocated diversions. Water available for non-allocated diversion is the sum of overbank flood spilling, supplementary entitlements and unregulated entitlements volume. Water available for allocation diversion is the sum of net carryover, allocation announcements and net allocation trade volume.
The information aligns with volume available for those items in ‘Supporting information’ note.
Total non-environmental surface water availability and diversion in Northern Basin, Southern Basin and whole region is provided in Figure 4 and as a downloadable table.
The 2013–14 year water availability has decreased from that during the previous year. The drought severely affected northern MDB areas (see Climate overview) which is one of the main reason for this decrease.
Groundwater
Total non-environmental groundwater availability comprises of water available under basic rights and allocation extraction. Water available for allocation extraction is the sum of net carryover, allocation announcements, net allocation trade volume.
The information aligns with volume available for those items in ‘Supporting information’ note. The 2013–14 year water availability was almost same as that during the previous year.
Total non-environmental groundwater availability for the Northern Basin, Southern Basin and whole MDB region and is provided in Figure 5 and as a downloadable table.
Segment water diversion and extraction
Surface water diversion
Water was diverted for non-environmental purposes under basic rights, non-allocated diversions (non-urban and urban) and allocation diversions (non-urban and urban) for 2012–13 and 2013–14 years.
The information aligns with volumes available for items in the ‘Supporting information’ note.
Information on non-environmental surface water diversions in the Northern Basin, Southern Basin and whole MDB region is provided in Figure 4 and as a downloadable table.
Figure 4 Non-environmental surface water availability and diversions for Northern Basin, Southern Basin and whole MDB region at 30 June 2013 and 2014
Total diversion volume in the two segments and the whole MDB region for the 2013–14 year has decreased from the previous year.
Groundwater extraction
Non-environmental groundwater was extracted under basic rights and entitlement for allocation extractions for the 2012–13 and 2013–14 years. The information aligns with volumes available for those items in the ‘Supporting information’ note.
Groundwater extraction volume in the Northern Basin increased by almost 30% in the 2013–14 year compared to the 2012–13 extraction volume. The respective increase in the Southern Basin was only 4%. Decrease in surface water availability due to continuing drought in the Northern Basin could be the main driver for this increase in groundwater extraction.
Information on non-environmental groundwater extractions in Northern Basin, Southern Basin and whole MDB region is provided in Figure 5 and downloadable table.
Figure 5 Non-environmental groundwater availability for allocated extractions for Northern Basin, Southern Basin and whole MDB region at 30 June 2013 and 2014
Segment environmental water provisions
Surface water
Total environmental surface water availability comprises of water available under entitlements for non-allocated diversions and allocated diversions.
Water was delivered for environmental purposes under entitlements for non-allocated diversions and allocation diversions. The information aligns with volumes available for those items in the ‘Supporting information’ note.
The 2013–14 year water available and delivered volumes decreased from the previous year.
Volumes for Northern Basin, Southern Basin and whole MDB region are provided in Figure 6 and as a downloadable table.
Figure 6 Environmental surface water provisions for Northern Basin, Southern Basin and whole MDB region at 30 June 2013 and 2014
Groundwater
Groundwater was available for environmental water purposes in several SDL resource units within New South Wales. Total water availability is based on announced allocations (35,746 ML) for the 2013–14 year, which is an 11% increase from the previous year. The extraction during the 2013–14 year was 745 ML in the Northern Basin and 4,929 ML in the Southern Basin for salinity and water table management purposes. Information on extraction during the 2012–13 year was zero based on available data.
The information aligns with volume available for this item in ‘Supporting information’ note.
Extraction volumes for Northern Basin, Southern Basin and whole MDB region are provided in Figure 7 and as a downloadable table.
Figure 7 Environmental groundwater provisions for Northern Basin, Southern Basin and whole MDB region at 30 June 2013 and 2014
Segment water trade
During the 2013–14 year, no water was traded into or out of the MDB region. Information on surface water and groundwater entitlement and allocation trade by Northern and Southern Basin and whole MDB region during the 2013–14 year is available in the Water Market Activity note.
State and Territory summary
The state summary includes the following information provided in the account on both a State and Territory basis.
State and Territory water assets
Surface water net assets
Surface water net assets are storages, unregulated river, regulated river, lakes and wetlands, inter-region claim and other surface water assets volumes less any liabilities.
The information aligns with surface water assets included in ‘Supporting information’ note.
Information on surface water net assets is provided by State and Territory in Figure 8 for 2012–13 and 2013–14 years and as a downloadable table.
Figure 8 Surface water net water assets for Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Australian Capital Territory at 30 June 2013 and 2014
While Queensland and New South Wales show decreases in net water assets between two years, other jurisdictions show increases. The drought that severely affected Northern Basin areas (see Climate overview) is the main reason for the decrease noted for Queensland and New South Wales.
Groundwater net assets
Groundwater net assets are sustainable diversion limit volumes less any liabilities.
Information on groundwater net water assets by State and Territory is provided in Figure 9 for 2013 and 2014 reporting years and as a downloadable table.The information aligns with groundwater assets included in the ‘Supporting information’ note.
Figure 9 Groundwater assets for Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Australian Capital Territory at 30 June 2013 and 2014
As described, groundwater assets for the 2013–14 year are sustainable diversion limits based on information provided by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority. Asset information for 2012–13 year is based on permissible consumptive volumes. This transition has resulted in differences between net water assets in two years, as groundwater liability is a small volume and is applicable only to South Australia.
State and Territory water availability
Surface water
Total non-environmental surface water availability comprises of water available under basic rights, non-allocated diversions and allocated diversions. Water available for non-allocated diversion is the sum of overbank flood spilling, supplementary entitlements and unregulated entitlements volume. Water available for allocation diversion is the sum of net carryover, allocation announcements and net allocation trade volume.
The information aligns with volume available for those items in the ‘Supporting information’ note.
Total non-environmental surface water availability, for allocation diversion by State and Territory is provided for 2012–13 and 2013–14 years in Figure 10 and as a downloadable table.
During the 2013–14 year, water availability for allocation diversion was decreased by 28% (NSW) and 2% (Victoria) compared to previous year volumes. ACT did not report a decrease as it allocated a constant volume for urban supply. The drought severely affected northern MDB areas (see Climate overview) and is the main reason for the decrease.
Groundwater
Total non-environmental groundwater availability comprises water available under basic rights and allocation extraction. Water available for allocation extraction is the sum of net carryover, allocation announcements, net allocation trade volume.
The information aligns with volume available for those items in the ‘Supporting information’ note.
Total non-environmental surface water availability for allocation extraction by State and Territory for 2012–13 and 2013–14 years is provided in Figure 11 and as a downloadable table.
Water availability in the 2013–14 year was almost the same compared to the previous year except for South Australia, which shows a 27% increase during the 2013–14 year.
State and Territory water diversion and extraction
Surface water diversion
Water was diverted for non-environmental purposes under basic rights, non-allocated diversions (non-urban and urban) and allocation diversions (non-urban and urban).
The information aligns with volume available for those items in ‘Supporting information’ note.
Information on non-environmental surface water diversions for Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Australian Capital Territory at 30 June 2013 and 2014 is provided in Figure 10 and as a downloadable table.
All the jurisdictions show a decrease in diversions during the 2013-14 year. Queensland shows a 46% decrease due to prevailing drought conditions. Diversions for Australian Capital Territory were almost similar for both reporting years.
Figure 10 Non-environmental surface water availability and diversions for Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Australian Capital Territory at 30 June 2013 and 2014
Groundwater extraction
Non-environmental groundwater was extracted under basic rights and entitlement for allocation extractions for 2012–13 and 2013–14 years.
The information aligns with volume available for those items in the ‘Supporting information’ note.
Information on non-environmental groundwater extractions in for Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Australian Capital Territory at 30 June 2013 and 2014 is provided in Figure 11 and as a downloadable table.
Groundwater extraction was increased in Queensland (26%) and NSW (18%) during the 2013–14 year (compared to 2012–13 year volumes) and is most likely due to less surface water availability. Although South Australia reported an increase in water availability and a decrease in water extraction by 24%.
Figure 11 Non-environmental groundwater availability and extractions for Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Australian Capital Territory at 30 June 2013 and 2014
State and Territory environmental water provisions
Surface water
Total environmental surface water availability comprises of water available under entitlements for non-allocated diversions and allocated diversions. Water was delivered for environmental purposes under entitlements for non-allocated diversions and allocation diversions.
The information aligns with volume available for those items in ‘Supporting information’ note.
Volumes for surface water environmental provisions in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Australian Capital Territory at 30 June 2013 and 2014 is provided in Figure 12 and as a downloadable table.
The 2013–14 year water available and delivered volumes decreased from the previous year. Figure 12 reflects less availability of surface water in northern MDB states' areas due to drought conditions.
Figure 12 Environmental surface water provisions in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Australian Capital Territory at 30 June 2014 and 2013
Groundwater
Total groundwater availability for environmental water purposes is based on the volumes available in the account for net carryover and allocation announcements for 2012–13 and 2013–14 years. The information aligns with volume available for those items in ‘Supporting information’ note.
Volumes for surface water environmental provisions in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Australian Capital Territory at 30 June 2014 and 2013 is provided in Figure 13 and as a downloadable table.
Groundwater was available for environmental water purposes in several SDL resource units within New South Wales.
Figure 13 Environmental groundwater provisions in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Australian Capital Territory at 30 June 2014 and 2013
State and Territory water trade
Information on surface water and groundwater entitlement and allocation trade by Northern and Southern Basin and the whole MDB region during the 2013–14 year is available in the Water Market Activity note.
Inter-state allocation trade during the 2013–14 year resulted in net inward movement of water for Queensland and South Australia and net outward movement for New South Wales and Victoria.