National Water Account 2016

Perth: Key findings

  • The Perth region experienced below-average rainfall, particularly during the first six months of the year when most of the storage inflows usually occur.
  • The poor rainfall contributed to low streamflows and aquifer recharge across the region.
  • Surface water storage dropped to 26% full and aquifer storage decreased.
  • The limited surface water availability resulted in an increase in groundwater use.
calendar icon showing water year from 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016

CLIMATE AND WATER

Rainfall

Rainfall icon

649 mm

below long-term average

Streamflow

Streamflow icon

below average

less than last year

Storage

Storage icon

26% full

drop from 31% full last year   

WATER USE

Graph showing breakdown of water sources use in the Perth region for 2015–16. 89,442 megalitres of surface water was diverted or approximately 12% of total water sourced; Groundwater extracted was 517,477 megalitres or 69% of total water sourced; Desalinated water produced was 138,645 ML or 19% of total water sourced; and Inter-region water was 1,953 ML or less than 1% of total water sourced.

747,517 ML

Water sourced

Water supplied

groundwater

69%

surface water

12%

desalinated
water

19%

inter-region
water

<1%

3%

more water used than last year

arrow pointing rightGraph showing breakdown of water supplied to users in the Perth region for 2015–16. 30,633 megalitres was supplied to the irrigation scheme or 4% of total water supplied; 297,576 ML was supplied to the urban system or 40% of total water supplied and 419,308 ML was supplied to individual users or 56% of total water supplied

urban system

40%

irrigation scheme

4%

individual users

56%

WATER STATUS

water entitlements icon

Entitlements

822,761 ML

total surface water and groundwater entitlements

Water accounting icon

Water assets

51,390 ML

closing net water assets
at 30 June 2016

33,400 ML less than last year

Future outlook icon

Outlook

177,000 ML

expected water assets
at 30 June 2017

increase from this year