National Water Account 2016

Canberra: Key findings

  • Annual rainfall was above average, primarily due to heavy rainfall associated with an east coast low event in early June.
  • The east coast low event contributed to storage volumes increasing to 83% full compared with 80% at the start of the 2015–16 year.
  • Relatively poor rainfall for the majority of the year contributed to an increase in water use.
calendar icon showing water year from 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016

CLIMATE AND WATER

Rainfall

Rainfall icon

847 mm

above the long-term average

Streamflow

Streamflow icon

above average

more than last year

Storage

Storage icon

83% full

3% more than last year   

WATER USE

Graph showing breakdown of water sources use in the Canberra region for 2015–16. 52,994 megalitres of surface water was diverted or approximately 98% of total water sourced; Groundwater extracted was 1,276 megalitres or25% of total water sourced.

54,270 ML

Water sourced

Water supplied

groundwater

2%

surface water

98%

9%

more water used than last year

arrow pointing rightGraph showing breakdown of water supplied to users in the Canberra region for 2015–16. 147,822 megalitres was supplied to the irrigation scheme or 82% of total water supplied; 31,397 ML was supplied to the urban system 17% and 2,265 ML was supplied to individual users or 1% of total water supplied

individual users

7%

urban system

93%

WATER STATUS

water entitlements icon

Entitlements

82,046 ML

total surface water and groundwater entitlements

Water accounting icon

Water assets

273,135 ML

closing net water assets
at 30 June 2016

8,016 ML more than last year

Future outlook icon

Outlook

266,000 ML

expected water assets
at 30 June 2017

decrease from this year