National Water Account 2016

Murray–Darling Basin: Key findings

  • The region experienced slightly above-average annual rainfall; however, rainfall was relatively poor during most of the year. Most of the high rainfall occurred late in the year (May–June 2016).
  • The relatively poor rainfall for most of the year contributed to below-average streamflow and a drop in storage volumes.
  • Surface water availability during the first 10 months of the year decreased from last year, resulting in decreased water use.
calendar icon showing water year from 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016

CLIMATE AND WATER

Rainfall

Rainfall icon

463 mm

similar to the long-term average

Streamflow

Streamflow icon

below average

higher than last year

Storage

Storage icon

39% full

7% less volume than last year   

WATER USE

Graph showing breakdown of water sources use in the Murray-Darling Basin region for 2015–16. 5,310,422 megalitres of surface water was diverted or approximately 58% of total water sourced; Groundwater extracted was 1,528,873 megalitres or approximately 17% of total water sourced; inter-region transfer of water was 2,392,309 megalitres or approximately 26%.

9,232,595 ML

Water sourced

Water supplied

groundwater

17%

surface water

83%

11% less water use than last year

arrow pointing rightGraph showing breakdown of water supplied to users in the Murray-Darling Basin region for 2015–16. 7,402,673 ML was supplied to individual users or 80% of total water supplied; 1,364,348 ML was supplied to the environment or 15% of total water supplied; 451,503 ML was supplied for town supply

individual users

80%

urban

5%

environmental use

15%

WATER STATUS

water entitlements icon

Water rights

19,446,966 ML

total surface water and groundwater entitlements

Water accounting icon

Water assets

13,500,354 ML

closing net water assets
at 30 June 2016

similar to last year

Future outlook icon

Trade

1,359,000 ML

entitlement trade

5,567,000 ML

allocation trade

Future outlook icon

Outlook

19,300,000 ML

expected water assets
at 30 June 2017

increase from this year