National Water Account 2015

Ord: Region overview

The Ord River is one of the most significant waterways in northern Australia. A distinctive feature is Lake Argyle, a Ramsar-listed wetland of international importance, and Australia's largest human-made storage. It supports irrigated agriculture and hydroelectric generation in the region. Over the next few years, the region is undergoing substantial further development of irrigated farmland.

Rainfall

Rainfall icon

691 mm

34% less than last year   
> long-term average

Storage

Storage icon

91% full

9% less than last year   
10,923,678 ML total capacity

Streamflow

Streamflow icon

upper Ord River
lower Ord River
Negri River

below average

less than last year

calendar icon showing water year from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015

WATER SOURCES

Graph showing breakdown of water sources use in the Ord region for 2014–15. 189,146 megalitres of surface water was diverted or approximately 95% of total water sourced; Groundwater extracted was 9,333 megalitres or 5% of total water sourced.

Groundwater

Surface water

198,479 ML

total water used

8% more than last year

WATER ACCOUNTING STATEMENTS

Water accounting statements icon

Assets

9,942,970 ML

9%

Icon showing in 2014-15 water assets decreased by 9% from 2013-14.

Liabilities

393,301 ML

32%

Icon showing in 2014-15 water liabilities increased by 32% from 2013-14.

Inflows

6,477,234 ML

57%

Icon showing in 2014-15 water inflows decreased by 57% from 2013-14.

Outflows

6,463,216 ML

38%

Icon showing in 2014-15 water outflows decreased by 38% from 2013-14.

Net change

1,097,940 ML

 

Icon showing direction (decrease) of net change in water assets in 2014-15.

WATER USE

Surface water diversion icon

189,146 ML

surface water diverted

9% more than last year

Groundwater extraction icon

9,333 ML

arrow down

groundwater extracted

13% less than last year

Urban supply icon

2,209 ML

supplied to urban system

similar to last year

Irrigation supply icon

165,653 ML

Arrow down

supplied to irrigation scheme

13% more than last year