Canberra: Water resources and systems
Introduction
The following set of notes provides water accounting statements for each of the water stores and systems within the Canberra region during the 2014–15 year. Information on all water flows to and from each water store and system are presented in this note, including between-store flows and transfers (Figure N2) that are not presented in the consolidated water accounting statements (which are shown in italics).
For more information about the region, please refer to the General description section of the 'Contextual information'. For more information on between-store flows and transfers that occur in the region, please refer to the Supporting information note.
Surface water
Statement of Water Assets and Water Liabilities
The Statement of Water Assets and Water Liabilities presents the volume of water assets and water liabilities at the start and end of the reporting year.
Surface water assets of the region include physical water assets (e.g., storages, lakes, and wetlands) and rights or claims to water. Surface water liabilities include commitments to deliver water to users at the end of the year. The closing net water assets are the volume of surface water assets in the region minus the surface water liabilities at the end of the reporting year (Figure N16).
Figure N16 Surface water assets and surface water liabilities for the Canberra region at 30 June 2015
Detail on the region's surface water assets and surface water liabilities for the 2014–15 year is also provided in Table N18.
| 2015 ML | 2014 ML | |
| Water assets | ||
| Storages | 225,896 | 219,448 |
| Unregulated river | – | – |
| Regulated river | – | – |
| Lakes and wetlands | 39,223 | 38,742 |
| Total water assets | 265,119 | 258,190 |
| Water liabilities | ||
| Allocation remaining: individual users | 0 | 0 |
| Allocation remaining: urban system | 0 | 0 |
| Total water liabilities | 0 | 0 |
| Opening net water assets | 258,190 | 215,921 |
| Change in net water assets | 6,929 | 42,269 |
| Closing net water assets | 265,119 | 258,190 |
Statement of Changes in Water Assets and Water Liabilities
The Statement of Changes in Water Assets and Water Liabilities presents the changes in water assets and water liabilities that occurred during the reporting year.
This statement is prepared on an accrual basis. Figure N17 shows the transactions that change the surface water assets and surface water liabilities of the region, including:
- accrual (non-physical) transactions, indicated by the glass of water symbols
- actual water flows (both natural and engineered), indicated by the arrows.
Detail on the changes in surface water assets and surface water liabilities for the 2014–15 year is also provided in Table N19.
| 2015 ML | 2014 ML | |
| Water asset increases | ||
| Precipitation | 13,984 | 13,650 |
| Inter-region inflow | 360,255 | 205,263 |
| Discharge: groundwater | – | – |
| Runoff | 407,874 | 391,658 |
| Discharge: urban supply system | 0 | 37 |
| Discharge: wastewater system | 32,955 | 32,551 |
| Total water asset increases | 815,068 | 643,159 |
| Water liability decreases | ||
| Adjustment and forfeiture: individual users | 1,832 | 1,832 |
| Adjustment and forfeiture: urban system | 23,885 | 22,305 |
| Total water liability decreases | 25,717 | 24,137 |
| Water asset decreases | ||
| Evaporation | 30,679 | 18,433 |
| Outflow | 616,452 | 468,263 |
| Recharge: groundwater | – | – |
| Recharge: landscape | – | – |
| Diversion: statutory rights | – | – |
| Non-allocated diversion: individual users | 1,653 | 1,156 |
| Non-allocated diversion: urban system | 0 | 37 |
| Total water asset decreases | 648,784 | 487,889 |
| Water liability increases | ||
| Allocation: individual users | 1,832 | 1,832 |
| Allocation: urban system | 71,000 | 71,000 |
| Total water liability increases | 72,832 | 72,832 |
| Balancing item—surface water | (112,240) | (64,306) |
| Change in net water assets | 6,929 | 42,269 |
Statement of Water Flows
The Statement of Water Flows presents the actual water inflows and outflows associated with the water stores of the region that occurred during the reporting year.
Figure N18 shows the actual surface water flows, including flows corresponding to the accrual transactions shown in Figure N17 above (red arrows).
Figure N18 Surface water flows for the Canberra region during the 2014–15 year
Detail on the surface water flows for the 2014–15 year is also provided in Table N20.
| 2015 ML | 2014 ML | |
| Water inflows | ||
| Precipitation | 13,984 | 13,650 |
| Inter-region inflow | 360,255 | 205,263 |
| Groundwater discharge | – | – |
| Runoff | 407,874 | 391,658 |
| Discharge: wastewater system | 32,955 | 32,551 |
| Discharge: urban supply system | 0 | 37 |
| Total water inflows | 815,068 | 643,159 |
| Water outflows | ||
| Evaporation | 30,679 | 18,433 |
| Outflow | 616,452 | 468,263 |
| Recharge: groundwater | – | – |
| Recharge: landscape | – | – |
| Diversion: statutory rights | – | – |
| Non-allocated diversion: individual users | 1,653 | 1,156 |
| Non-allocated diversion: urban system | 0 | 37 |
| Allocated diversion: individual users | – | – |
| Allocated diversion: urban system | 47,115 | 48,695 |
| Total water outflows | 695,899 | 536,584 |
| Balancing item—surface water | (112,240) | (64,306) |
| Opening water storage | 258,190 | 215,921 |
| Change in water storage | 6,929 | 42,269 |
| Closing water storage | 265,119 | 258,190 |
Groundwater
Statement of Water Assets and Water Liabilities
The Statement of Water Assets and Water Liabilities presents the volume of water assets and water liabilities at the start and end of the reporting year.
Groundwater assets of the region include physical water assets (e.g., water table aquifer and underlying aquifers) and rights or claims to water. Groundwater liabilities include commitments to deliver water to users at the end of the year. The closing net water assets are the volume of groundwater assets in the region minus the groundwater liabilities at the end of the reporting year (Figure N19).
Figure N19 Groundwater assets and groundwater liabilities for the Canberra region at 30 June 2015
Detail on the region's groundwater assets and groundwater liabilities for the 2014–15 year is also provided in Table N21.
| 2015 (ML) | 2014 (ML) | |
| Water assets | ||
| Water table aquifer | – | – |
| Underlying aquifers | – | – |
| Total water assets | – | – |
| Water liabilities | ||
| Allocation remaining: individual users | – | – |
| Total water liabilities | – | – |
| Opening net water assets | – | – |
| Change in net water assets | 0 | 0 |
| Closing net water assets | – | – |
Statement of Changes in Water Assets and Water Liabilities
The Statement of Changes in Water Assets and Water Liabilities presents the changes in water assets and water liabilities that occurred during the reporting year.
This statement is prepared on an accrual basis. Figure N20 shows the transactions that change the groundwater assets and groundwater liabilities of the region, including:
- accrual (non-physical) transactions, indicated by the glass of water symbols
- actual water flows (both natural and engineered), indicated by the arrows.
Figure 20 Changes in groundwater assets and groundwater liabilities for the Canberra region during the 2014–15 year
Detail on the changes in groundwater assets and groundwater liabilities for the 2014–15 year is also provided in Table N22.
| 2015 ML | 2014 ML | |
| Water asset increases | ||
| Inter-region inflow | – | – |
| Recharge: landscape | – | – |
| Recharge: surface water | – | – |
| Leakage: urban system | 2,920 | 2,081 |
| Total water asset increases | 2,920 | 2,081 |
| Water liability decreases | ||
| Adjustment and forfeiture: individual users | 851 | 851 |
| Total water liability decreases | 851 | 851 |
| Water asset decreases | ||
| Inter region outflow | – | – |
| Discharge: landscape | – | – |
| Discharge: surface water | – | – |
| Extraction: statutory rights | 435 | 435 |
| Non-allocated extraction: individual users | 626 | 459 |
| Total water asset decreases | 1,061 | 894 |
| Water liability increases | ||
| Allocation: individual users | 851 | 851 |
| Total water liability increases | 851 | 851 |
| Balancing item—groundwater | (1,859) | (1,187) |
| Change in net water assets | 0 | 0 |
Statement of Water Flows
The Statement of Water Flows presents the actual water inflows and outflows associated with the water stores of the region that occurred during the reporting year.
Figure N21 shows the actual groundwater flows, including flows corresponding to the accrual transactions shown in Figure N20 above (red arrows).
Figure 21 Groundwater flows for the Canberra region during the 2014–15 year
Detail on the groundwater flows for the 2014–15 year is also provided in Table N23.
| 2015 ML | 2014 ML | |
| Water inflows | ||
| Inter-region inflow | – | – |
| Recharge: landscape | – | – |
| Recharge: surface water | – | – |
| Leakage: urban system | 2,920 | 2,081 |
| Total water inflows | 2,920 | 2,081 |
| Water outflows | ||
| Inter-region outflow | – | – |
| Discharge: landscape | – | – |
| Discharge: surface water | – | – |
| Extraction: statutory rights | 435 | 435 |
| Non-allocated extraction: individual users | 626 | 459 |
| Allocated extraction: individual users | – | – |
| Total water outflows | 1,061 | 894 |
| Balancing item—groundwater | (1,859) | (1,187) |
| Opening Water Storage | – | – |
| Change in water storage | 0 | 0 |
| Closing Water Storage | – | – |
Urban water system
Statement of Water Assets and Water Liabilities
The Statement of Water Assets and Water Liabilities presents the volume of water assets and water liabilities at the start and end of the reporting year.
Urban water system assets of the region include physical water assets (e.g., water within the urban supply, wastewater, and recycled water systems) and rights or claims to water. The total net water assets are the sum of the physical water assets in the system and the water claims at the end of the reporting year (Figure N22).
Figure N22 Urban water assets and urban water liabilities for the Canberra region at 30 June 2015
Detail on the region's urban water systems assets and urban water claims for the 2014–15 year is also provided in Table N24.
| 2015 (ML) | 2014 (ML) | |
| Water assets | ||
| Supply system | 964 | 898 |
| Wastewater | – | – |
| Recycled water | 2 | 2 |
| Claims: surface water | 0 | 0 |
| Total water assets | 966 | 900 |
| Opening net water assets | 900 | 955 |
| Change in net water assets | 66 | (55) |
| Closing net water assets | 966 | 900 |
Statement of Changes in Water Assets and Water Liabilities
The Statement of Changes in Water Assets and Water Liabilities presents the changes in water assets and water liabilities that occurred during the reporting year.
This statement is prepared on an accrual basis. Figure N23 shows the transactions that change the urban water system assets and urban water claims of the region, including:
- accrual (non-physical) transactions, indicated by the glass of water symbols
- actual water flows (both natural and engineered), indicated by the arrows.
Figure N23 Changes in urban water assets and urban water liabilities for the Canberra region during the 2014–15 year
Detail on the changes in urban water system assets and urban water claims for the 2014–15 year is also provided in Table N25.
| 2015 ML | 2014 ML | |
| Water asset increases | ||
| Non-allocated diversion: surface water | 0 | 37 |
| Wastewater collected | 37,285 | 36,682 |
| Claims: surface water | 71,000 | 71,000 |
| Total water asset increases | 108,285 | 107,719 |
| Water asset decreases | ||
| Evaporation | 4,203 | 3,930 |
| Leakage: groundwater | 2,920 | 2,081 |
| Supply system delivery: urban users | 42,694 | 45,489 |
| Wastewater discharge: surface water | 32,955 | 32,551 |
| Supply system discharge: surface water | 0 | 37 |
| Recycled water delivery: urban users | 128 | 201 |
| Claims: surface water | 23,885 | 22,305 |
| Other supply system decreases | 1,405 | 1,462 |
| Total water asset decreases | 108,190 | 108,056 |
| Balancing item—urban system | (29) | 282 |
| Change in net water assets | 66 | (55) |
Statement of Water Flows
The Statement of Water Flows presents the actual water inflows and outflows associated with the water stores of the region that occurred during the reporting year.
Figure N24 shows the actual urban water system flows, including flows corresponding to the accrual transactions shown in Figure N23 above (red arrows).
Figure N24 Urban water flows for the Canberra region during the 2014–15 year
Detail on the urban water system flows for the 2014–15 year is also provided in Table N26.
| 2015 ML | 2014 ML | |
| Water inflows | ||
| Non-allocated diversion: surface water | 0 | 37 |
| Wastewater collected | 37,285 | 36,682 |
| Allocated diversion: surface water | 47,115 | 48,695 |
| Total water inflows | 84,400 | 85,414 |
| Water outflows | ||
| Evaporation | 4,203 | 3,930 |
| Leakage: groundwater | 2,920 | 2,081 |
| Supply system delivery: urban users | 42,694 | 45,489 |
| Recycled water delivery: urban users | 128 | 201 |
| Supply system discharge: surface water | 0 | 37 |
| Wastewater discharge: surface water | 32,955 | 32,551 |
| Other supply system decreases | 1,405 | 1,462 |
| Total water outflows | 84,305 | 85,751 |
| Balancing item—urban water system | (29) | 282 |
| Opening water storage | 900 | 955 |
| Change in water storage | 66 | (55) |
| Closing water storage | 966 | 900 |