National Water Account 2017

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Key findings

Climate and water

Water Accounting Statements

Supporting information

Region description

Reference information

Adelaide: Water access and use

 

 

 

Water rights and allocations

Surface water rights

Figure S13 Surface water allocations and diversions in the Adelaide region for the years ending 30 June, from 2014–2017

• Surface water allocations for individual users increased from the previous year, reflecting the increased surface water availability across the region. Actual diversions to individual users were similar to the previous year.
• Allocations to the urban system remained unchanged from last year. Total allocated diversions was the highest contribution to the urban system in over 5 years as the improved rainfall conditions across the region meant there was more surface water available to meet urban demand.
• Non-allocated diversions to the urban system represents the inter-region transfer of water from the River Murray and was much less than last year; however, total diversion to the urban system (allocated and non-allocated water supply) was only marginally less than last year.

Figure S14 Surface water allocation to individual users for each licence purpose

• 8% of the total surface water allocated is for individual users. Most of these licences relate to water use for unspecified purposes.

Groundwater rights

Figure S15 Groundwater allocations and extractions in the Adelaide region for the years ending 30 June, from 2013–2017

• Groundwater extraction for individual users decreased from last year due to the improved rainfall conditions and the increased surface water availability across the region.
• Non-allocated extraction to the irrigation scheme and to individuals under statutory rights changed little from last year.

Figure S16 Groundwater allocation to individual users for each licence purpose

• 100% of the total groundwater allocated was for individual users. Most of these licences relate to water use for unspecified purposes from the Western Mount Lofty Ranges Prescribed Water Resource Area.

Water market activity

• Trade or lease of water entitlements and allocations do not occur between prescribed areas but can occur within them if they are managed under a water allocation plan.

• Accordingly, surface water trade reported during the 2016–17 year includes trades within both the Barossa Prescribed Water Resource Area and the Western Mount Lofty Ranges Prescribed Water Resource Area.

• For groundwater, trade has been reported within the following groundwater resource areas:
  • Barossa Prescribed Water Resource Area
  • McLaren Vale Prescribed Wells Area
  • Northern Adelaide Plains Prescribed Wells Area
  • Western Mount Lofty Ranges Prescribed Water Resource Area.

Water use

Economic, social and cultural benefit

• Surface water and groundwater are used for economic purposes in the Adelaide region. For a summary of the water volumes allocated for various economic purposes within the region, refer to Surface water rights and Groundwater rights.

• Social and cultural uses are not typically covered by water rights, even in prescribed areas. Stock and domestic water use, including Indigenous use, is considered a basic right. These rights are described in the South Australian Natural Resources Management Act 2004, the Australian Government Native Title Act 1983, and the notice of authorisation to take water for stock and domestic purposes and for native title purposes (published in the South Australian Government gazette).

• Social and cultural water use is licensed in specific instances as detailed in the relevant water allocation plan. For further information refer to the relevant water allocation plan:
  • Barossa Prescribed Water Resources Area Water Allocation Plan
  • McLaren Vale Prescribed Wells Area Water Allocation Plan
  • Northern Adelaide Plains Prescribed Wells Area Water Allocation Plan
  • Western Mount Lofty Ranges Prescribed Water Resources Area Water Allocation Plan.

Environmental benefit

• Information on legislative, administrative and governing arrangements of environmental water in the region is available in the Environmental water management section of the 'Contextual information'.

• In the Adelaide region, water for environmental benefit is provided according to three different environmental water management scenarios:
  • planned unregulated surface water
  • planned partly regulated surface water
  • planned groundwater.

Planned unregulated surface water

Environmental provisions

• In the planned unregulated surface water situation, environmental water requirements are met by controlling the water access regime through water allocation plans.

• Water allocation plans consider the capacity of the water resource to meet demands and the needs of water-dependent ecosystems in developing rules and principles for allocating water resources.

• In the Adelaide region, currently only the surface waters of the Barossa and Western Mount Lofty Ranges Prescribed Water Resource Area's are managed by a water allocation plan.

• The Barossa Prescribed Water Resource Area Water Allocation Plan identifies ecological flow requirements for water-dependent ecosystems in three reaches of the North Para River that are located within the managed area.
• The ecological flow requirements considers different flow bands (baseflow, freshets, pool connection, etc.) and identifies target streamflow regimes (volume, timing, and frequency) for each of these flow bands. The ecological flow requirements for each reach are described in more detail in the Plan (Tables 4–6) and were developed to ensure that the frequency and seasonality of streamflows closely resembles what would occur naturally.
• The applicable threshold flow rates are described in more detail in principles 63–64 of the Plan.

Figure S17 Environmental flow provisions for the North Para river 

• Similarly, the Western Mount Lofty Ranges Prescribed Water Resource Area Water Allocation Plan details environmental water provisions that aim to maintain water-dependent ecosystems at an acceptable level of risk.
• This target is expected to allow indicator populations to be self-sustaining.
• Environmental provisions are detailed in sections 2.3–2.5 of the plan and include managing the impacts of water extractions through the use of threshold flow rates and reservoir releases.

Environmental water outcomes

• Although the Barossa Prescribed Water Resource Area Water Allocation Plan describes target streamflows and rules associated with water licences to achieve this, these regimes are not used for monitoring or compliance. An example of the ecological requirements for the Incised Reach is shown below.

Figure S18 Environmental outcomes for the North Para river

• The Western Mount Lofty Ranges Prescribed Water Resource AreaWater Allocation Plan was adopted on the 17 September 2013. Information on environmental releases was not available for the National Water Account.

Planned partly regulated surface water

Environmental provisions

• In the planned partly regulated surface water situation, environmental water requirements are met by operational releases from storages to control or influence flows.
• During the 2016–17 year, SA Water was issued with a water licence under the Natural Resources Management Act 2004.
• This licence entitles SA Water to divert up to an annual maximum of 143,045 ML of surface water from the Western Mount Lofty Ranges Prescribed Water Resource Area for the purposes of public water supply.
• According to the licence conditions, SA Water will participate in an environmental flow trial with the objective of establishing timing, frequency, duration, and governance of environmental flows up to 16,500 ML per annum as defined under the plan.

Environmental outcomes

• No information was available on the water released under the trial programme during the 2016–17 year.