Sydney: Key findings

  • Annual rainfall was above average, primarily due to heavy rainfall associated with several east coast low events that occurred throughout the year.
  • The east coast low events contributed to storage volumes increasing to 98% full compared with 93% at the start of the year.
  • Total water use in the region is similar to the last four years.
calendar icon showing water year from 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016

CLIMATE AND WATER

Rainfall

Rainfall icon

934 mm

above the long-term average

Streamflow

Streamflow icon

above average

more than last year

Storage

Storage icon

98% full

5% more than last year   

WATER USE

Graph showing breakdown of water sources use in the Sydney region for 2015–16.608,140 megalitres of surface water was diverted making up 100% of total water sourced.

608,140 ML

Water sourced

Water supplied

surface water

100%

1%

more water used than last year

arrow pointing rightGraph showing breakdown of water supplied to users in the sydney region for 2015–16. 555,109 ML was supplied to the urban system, or 91% of total water supplied and 53,031 ML was supplied to individual users or 9% of total water supplied

urban system

91%

individual users

9%

WATER STATUS

water entitlements icon

Entitlements

1,337,019 ML

total surface water and groundwater entitlements

Water accounting icon

Water assets

2,823,922 ML

closing net water assets
at 30 June 2016

156,589 ML more than last year

Future outlook icon

Outlook

2,720,000 ML

expected water assets
at 30 June 2017

decrease from this year