National Water Account 2016

Ord: Key findings

The Ord region experienced slightly above average annual rainfall during the 2015–16 year; however, poor rainfall during the typically wettest months of the year (January–February) contributed to low streamflows and a drop in water storage volume. This was the second year in a row water assets dropped in the region. Development of irrigated agriculture in the Goomig farmlands continued, but this area required only a small proportion of the total irrigation water supply during the year.

calendar icon showing water year from 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016

CLIMATE AND WATER

Rainfall

Rainfall icon

701 mm

similar to long-term average

Streamflow

Streamflow icon

below average

less than last year

Storage

Storage icon

74% full

19% less than last year   

WATER USE

Graph showing breakdown of water sources use in the Ord region for 2015–16. 172,912 megalitres of surface water was diverted or approximately 95% of total water sourced; Groundwater extracted was 8,572 megalitres or 5% of total water sourced.

181,484 ML

Water sourced

Water supplied

groundwater

5%

surface water

95%

9%

less water used than last year

arrow pointing rightGraph showing breakdown of water supplied to users in the Ord 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

irrigation scheme

82%

individual users

17%

urban system

1%

WATER STATUS

water entitlements icon

Entitlements

439,200 ML

total surface water and groundwater entitlements

Water accounting icon

Water assets

7,739,013 ML

closing net water assets
at 30 June 2016

1,874,456 ML less than last year

Future outlook icon

Outlook

9,139,000 ML

expected water assets
at 30 June 2017

increase from this year