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National Water Account 2015

Melbourne: Water resources and systems

City of Melbourne,Yarra River Victoria (iStock © Blues and Views)

Introduction

The following set of notes provides water accounting statements for each of the water stores and systems within the Melbourne region during the 2014–15 year. Information on all water flows to and from each water store and system is presented in this note, including between-store flows and transfers 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 and rivers) 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 N20).

 

Figure N20 Surface water assets and surface water liabilities for the region at 30 June 2015
Figure N20 Surface water assets and surface water liabilities for the 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 N24.

 

Table N24 Statement of Water Assets and Water Liabilities as at 30 June 2015 for the surface water store 
 2015
ML		2014
ML
Water assets  
Storages522,005581,952
Unregulated river––
Regulated river– –
Claims: inter-region 765,623815,917
Claims: desalinated water00
Total water assets1,287,6281,397,869
   
Water liabilities  
Allocation remaining: individual users5,9524,834
Allocation remaining: urban system484,266508,802
Commitment: inter-region 00
Total water liabilities490,218513,636
   
Opening net water assets 884,233882,769
Change in net water assets(86,823)1,464
Closing net water assets797,410884,233

 

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 N21 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.

 

Figure N21 Changes in surface water assets and surface water liabilities for the region during the 2014–15 year
Figure N21 Changes in surface water assets and surface water liabilities for the region during the 2014–15 year

 

Detail on the changes in surface water assets and surface water liabilities for the 2014–15 year is also provided in Table N25.

 

Table N25 Statement of Changes in Water Assets and Water Liabilities for the year ended 30 June 2015 for the surface water store
 2015
ML		2014
ML
Water asset increases  
Precipitation 31,43139,796
Discharge: groundwater ––
Runoff  1,105,0961,768,154
Point return: irrigation 12161
Discharge: urban system 349362
Discharge: user ––
Claims: inter-region 160,554217,587
Claims: desalinated water 00
 Discharge: wastewater28,23028,956
Total water asset increases 1,325,7812,054,916
   
Water liability decreases  
Adjustment and forfeiture: individual users 1,9671,867
Adjustment and forfeiture: urban system65,84270,559
Adjustment and forfeiture: inter-region 400365
Total water liability decreases 68,20972,791
   
Water asset decreases  
Evaporation  54,82944,132
Outflow  854,7171,274,041
Recharge: groundwater
 ––
Diversion: statutory rights ––
Non-allocated diversion: individual users 12,55013,682
Claims: inter-region 60,65062,565
Claims: desalinated water 00
Total water asset decreases 982,7461,394,420
   
Water liability increases  
Allocation: individual users  11,14316,545
Allocation: urban system 461,223499,506
Allocation: inter-region 3,5063,891
Total water liability increases 475,872519,942
   
Balancing item—surface water 22,195211,881
   
Change in net water assets (86,823)1,464

 

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 N22 shows the actual surface water flows, including flows corresponding to the accrual transactions shown in Figure N21 above (red arrows).

 

Figure N22 Surface water flows for the region during the 2014–15 year
Figure N22 Surface water flows for the region during the 2014–15 year

 

Detail on the surface water flows for the 2014–15 year is also provided in Table N26.

 

Table N26 Statement of Water Flows for the surface water store
 2015
ML		2014
ML
Water inflows  
Precipitation 31,43139,796
Discharge: groundwater––
Runoff 1.105,0961,768,154
Point return: irrigation 12161
Discharge: urban system349362
Discharge: user––
Delivery: inter-region agreement150,198134,084
Delivery: desalinated water00
Discharge: wastewater28,23028,956
Total water inflows1,315,4251,971,413
   
Water outflows  
Evaporation 54,82944,132
Outflow 854,7171,274,041
Recharge: groundwater––
Diversion: statutory rights––
Non-allocated diversion: individual users12,55013,682
Allocated diversion: individual users8,0589,844
Allocated diversion: urban system419,917415,334
Transfer: inter-region3,1063,526
Total water outflows1,353,1771,760,559
   
Balancing item—surface water22,195211,881
   
Opening water storage581,952582,979
Change in water storage(59,947)(1,027)
Closing water storage522,005581,952

 

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 N23).

 

 Figure N23 Groundwater assets and groundwater liabilities for the region at 30 June 2015
Figure N23 Groundwater assets and groundwater liabilities for the 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 N27.

 

Table N27 Statement of Water Assets and Water Liabilities as at 30 June 2015 for the groundwater store
 2015
ML		2015
ML
Water assets  
Water table aquifer22,05422,054
Underlying aquifers16,56516,565
Total water assets38,61938,619
   
Water liabilities  
Allocation remaining: individual users00
Allocation remaining: urban system00
Total water liabilities00
   
Opening net water assets38,61938,619
Change in net water assets00
Closing net water assets38,61938,619

 

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 N24 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 N24 Changes in groundwater assets and groundwater liabilities for the region during the 2014–15 year
Figure N24 Changes in groundwater assets and groundwater liabilities for the 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 N28.

 

Table N28 Statement of Changes in Water Assets and Water Liabilities for the 2014–15 year for the groundwater store
 2015
ML		2014
ML
Water asset increases  
Inter-region inflow00
Inter-region coastal inflow33,66530,504
Recharge: landscape287,949338,319
Recharge: surface water––
Leakage: urban system30,49732,262
Total water asset increases352,111401,085
   
Water liability decreases 
Adjustment and forfeiture: individual users42,13026,156
Adjustment and forfeiture: urban system977311
Total water liability decreases43,10726,467
   
Water asset decreases  
Inter-region outflow 00
Inter-region coastal outflow 139,716137,638
Discharge: landscape10,91810,074
Discharge: surface water––
Extraction: statutory rights––
Non-allocated extraction: individual users––
Total water asset decreases150,634147,712
   
Water liability increases  
Allocation: individual users 61,17140,468
Allocation: urban system1,063413
Total water liability increases62,23440,881
   
Balancing item—groundwater182,350238,959
   
Change in net water assets00

 

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 N25 shows the actual groundwater flows, including flows corresponding to the accrual transactions shown in Figure N24 above (red arrows).

 

Figure N25 Groundwater flows for the region during the 2014–15 year
Figure N25 Groundwater flows for the region during the 2014–15 year

 

Detail on the groundwater flows for the 2014–15 year is also provided in Table N29.

 

Table N29 Statement of Water Flows for the 2014–15 year for the groundwater store
 2015
ML		2014
ML
Water inflows  
Inter-region inflow00
Inter-region coastal inflow33,66530,504
Recharge: landscape287,949338,319
Recharge: surface water––
Leakage: urban system30,49732,262
Total water inflows352,111401,085
   
Water outflows  
Inter-region outflow 00
Inter-region coastal outflow 139,716137,638
Discharge: landscape10,91810,074
Discharge: surface water––
Extractions: statutory rights––
Non-allocated extraction: individual users––
Allocated extraction: individual users19,04114,312
Allocated extraction: urban system86102
Total water outflows169,761162,126
   
Balancing item—groundwater182,350238,959
   
Opening water storage38,61938,619
Change in water storage00
Closing water storage38,61938,619

 

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 N26).

 

Figure N26 Urban water assets and urban water claims for the region at 30 June 2015
Figure N26 Urban water assets and urban water claims for the 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 N30.

 

Table N30 Statement of Water Assets and Water Liabilities as at 30 June 2015 for the urban water system
 2015
ML		2014
ML
Water assets  
Supply system––
Wastewater 28,74029,715
Recycled water ––
Claims: surface water484,266508,802
Claims: groundwater00
Total water assets513,006538,517
   
Opening net water assets538,517524,321
Change in net water assets(25,511)14,196
Closing net water assets513,006538,517

 

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 N27 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 N27 Changes in urban water assets and urban water claims for the region during the 2014–15 year
Figure N27 Changes in urban water assets and urban water claims for the 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 N31.

 

Table N31 Statement of Changes in Water Assets and Water Liabilities for the 2014–15 year for the urban water system
 2015
ML		2014
ML
Water asset increases  
Wastewater collected336,494350,537
Delivery: inter-region388–
Claims: surface water461,223499,506
Claims: groundwater1,063413
Other increases00
Total water asset increases799,168850,456
   
Water asset decreases  
Evaporation15,89615,657
Leakage: landscape5,0134,311
Leakage: groundwater30,49732,262
Delivery: urban users368,451363,157
Discharge: surface water349362
Discharge: irrigation7,5675,769
Discharge: sea261,293275,538
Discharge: other1310
Transfer: inter-region247351
Claims: surface water65,84270,559
Claims: groundwater977311 
Other supply system decreases15,74514,397
Recycled water delivery: urban users22,63422,072
Wastewater discharge: surface water28,23028,956
Other wastewater decreases7155
Supply system delivery: irrigation67112
Total water asset decreases823,010833,869
   
Balancing item—urban water system1,6692,391
   
Change in net water assets(25,511)14,196

 

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 N28 shows the actual urban water system flows, including flows corresponding to the accrual transactions shown in Figure N27 above (red arrows).

 

Figure N28 Urban water flows for the region during the 2014–15 year
Figure N28 Urban water flows for the region during the 2014–15 year

 

Detail on the urban water system flows for the 2014–15 year is also provided in Table N32.

 

Table N32 Statement of Water Flows for the 2014–15 year for the urban water system
 2015
ML		2014
ML
Water inflows  
Wastewater collected336,494350,537
Delivery: inter-region388–
Allocated diversion: surface water419,917415,334
Allocated extraction: groundwater86102
Other increases00
Total water inflows756,885765,973
   
Water outflows  
Evaporation 15,89615,657
Leakage: landscape5,0134,311
Leakage: groundwater30,49732,262
Delivery: urban users368,451363,157
Discharge: surface water349362
Discharge: irrigation7,5675,769
Discharge: sea261,293275,538
Discharge: other1310
Transfer: inter-region247351
Other supply system decreases15,74514,397
Recycled water delivery: urban users22,63422,072
Wastewater discharge: surface water28,23028,956
Other wastewater decreases7155
Supply system delivery: irrigation67112
Total water outflows756,191762,999
   
Balancing item—urban water system1,6692,391
   
Opening water storage29,71529,132
Change in water storage(975)583
Closing water storage28,74029,715