South East Queensland region
Overview: 2013–14
The South East Queensland (SEQ) region, crossed by a number of major river systems and creeks, is located on the southeast coast of Queensland. Its boundaries are defined by the New South Wales–Queensland State border in the south, the Pacific Ocean in the east, the top of the Great Dividing Range in the west, and the headwaters of the Brisbane River in the north. Mountains exist along the western and southern edges of the region, while coastal plains dominate the east. The main rivers in the region are the Albert, Bremer, Brisbane and Logan.
Water in the region is primarily supplied from surface water sources. There are 26 major surface water storages in the region with a total capacity of almost 2,600,000 ML, of which Wivenhoe, Somerset, Hinze, North Pine and Wyaralong provide more than 80% of the total capacity. In the heavily populated areas around Brisbane, the City of Gold Coast, Logan City and Ipswich, potable water is supplied through the SEQ water grid that connects water storages, weirs, water treatment plants, groundwater bore fields and a desalination plant, increasing the region's resilience to drought. This is a distinct feature of the region's water infrastructure.
Total annual rainfall across the region in the 2013–14 year was 681 mm, which was 68% of the long–term annual mean (1900–2014), a 43% reduction from the 2012–13 year. While flooding in the SEQ region associated with tropical cyclone Oswald in late January 2013 made headlines, the total annual rainfall in the 2013–14 year was the ninth lowest in 114 years (1900–2014). By 30 June 2014, the region's storage volume was at 89% of capacity, a reduction of 9% from that of the same period in the 2012–13 year. Closing net water assets in the region were 2,323,333 ML, compared to 2,554,984 ML at the end of the 2012–13 year. For more information on the region's water assets, refer to Water accounting statements.
Surface water is the primary water source for the urban water supply system. For the 2013–14 year, the volume of surface water diverted for urban supply and the volume supplied to individual users were greater than that of the 2012–13 year. The urban water supply system received 239,623 ML from surface water, 182 ML from groundwater, 1,435 ML from desalinated water, and a further 20,007 ML that was imported from the Sunshine Coast (via the Northern Pipeline Interconnector) and North Stradbroke Island (via the Eastern Pipeline Interconnector). Furthermore, 25,364 ML of recycled water was supplied for urban use.
The key water account information for the region during the 2013–14 year 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.
Contextual information
 | 2013–14 | 2012–13 | Long–term average (1900–2014) |
| Rainfall: 681 mm | Rainfall: 1,184 mm | Rainfall: 1002 mm | |
| For more detail on the SEQ climate, refer to Climate overview. | |||
 | Brisbane River | Logan River | Bremer River |
| below mean annual flow | below mean annual flow | below mean annual flow | |
| For more detail on streamflow in the SEQ region, refer to Water overview. | |||
 | 2013–14 | 2012–131 | |
| Total water assets as at 30 June (ML) | 2,335,486 | 2,567,137 | |
| Total water liabilities as at 30 June (ML) | 12,153 | 12,153 | |
| Change in net water assets (ML) | (231,651) | 75,284 | |
| Closing net water assets (ML) | 2,323,333 | 2,554,984 | |
| For more detail on water assets and water liabilities, refer to Water accounting statements. | |||
1These volumes vary from those published in the 2013 Account. Please refer to Water accounting policies for more detail.
Notes: Supporting information
 | 30 June 2014 | 30 June 2013 | |||
| Total capacity | Volume | % capacity | Volume | % capacity | |
| 2,593,703 ML | 2,320,939 ML | 89 | 2,553,648 ML | 98 | |
| For more detail on surface water storage in the SEQ region, refer to Surface water. | |||||
 | Total water abstracted | ||
| 2013–14 | 2012–13 | Recent activity | |
| Surface water: 258,431 ML | Surface water: 243,069 ML | Surface water abstraction increased 6% and groundwater abstraction increased 42%. | |
| Groundwater: 7,516 ML | Groundwater: 5,300 ML | ||
| For more detail on water abstraction in the SEQ region, refer to Surface water and Groundwater. | |||
 | Total water supplied | ||
| 2013–14 | 2012–13 | Recent activity | |
| 261,247 ML | 251,897 ML | High dependence on surface water. | |
| For more detail on the urban water system in the SEQ region, refer to Urban water system. | |||