Adelaide: Water stores
An increase in annual rainfall from the previous year contributed to increased runoff across the region and in increase in surface water storage. The increase in the region's surface water availability, meant there was much less reliance on inter-region transfers from the River Murray for urban water supply.
For a water balance on each of the region's water stores for the 2016–17 year scroll down this page or click on the links below:
Surface water store
| 2017 ML | 2016 ML | |
| Opening surface water store | 103,300 | 94,769 |
| Inflows | 934,069 | 391,805 |
| Outflows | (627,079) | (238,803) |
| Balancing item | (299,113) | (144,471) |
| Closing surface water store | 111,177 | 103,300 |
- The volume of surface water in the region increased by 7% from 103,300 ML at 1 July 2016 to 111,177 ML at 30 June 2017.
- The balancing item of 299,113 ML is primarily attributed to uncertainties associated with the runoff estimate (see Methods).
Surface water flows
Figure S4 Water inflows and outflows for the surface water store during the 2016–17 year
- The largest natural water flows were runoff and outflow. Both were much higher than the previous year, reflecting the improved rainfall conditions across the region (see Climate and water).
- The transfer of water into the region (delivery: inter-region) from the River Murray decreased by 75% from last year, which can be attributed to the increase in the region's surface water availability.
Figure S5 Allocated surface water diversions during the 2016–17 year in the region's allocation areas
- Total allocated surface water diversion was 133,095 ML, which is 90% of the total surface water diverted across the region (143,578 ML).
- Approximately 96% of the total allocated surface water diversion was for urban supply, most of which is from the Western Mount Lofty Ranges Perscribed Water Resources Area.
- 4% of the total allocated diversion was for individual users.
- For a more detailed description of the water usage in the region, and the associated entitlements, see the Surface water rights note.
Groundwater store
| 2017 ML | 2016 ML | |
| Opening groundwater store | 86,356 | 86,356 |
| Inflows | 125,638 | 121,144 |
| Outflows | (116,628) | (132,689) |
| Balancing item | (9,010) | 11,545 |
| Closing groundwater store | 86,356 | 86,356 |
- The volume of groundwater in the region is equivalent to the managed aquifer volume, which is the legal extractable limit and, therefore, remains unchanged from year to year.
- Such a high balancing item is primarily attributed to the fact that key items such as groundwater discharge to the landscape and to the rivers cannot currently be quantified in the account.
Groundwater flows
Figure S6 Water inflows and outflows for the groundwater store during the 2016–17 year
- The largest groundwater flow in the region is recharge: landscape, which makes up almost 87% of the total groundwater inflows.
- Recharge to landscape was higher than the previous year reflecting the improved rainfall and streamflow conditions across the region, particularly during the winter and spring months (see Climate and water). This resulted in the first annual increase in aquifer storage in 4 years (see Statement details).
Figure S7 Groundwater extractions for the Adelaide region during the 2016–17 year by allocation area
- Total groundwater extracted in the region was 41,242 ML, approximately 30% less than the previous year.
- All allocated extractions reported for the Adelaide region are for individual users; the urban water system does not access groundwater in the Adelaide region.
- For a more detailed description of the water usage in the region and the associated entitlements, see the Groundwater rights note.
Urban water system
| 2017 ML | 2016 ML | |
| Opening urban water system | – | – |
| Inflows | 254,829 | 252,441 |
| Outflows | (249,731) | (250,878) |
| Balancing item | (5,098) | (1,563) |
| Closing urban water system | – | – |
- The volume of water in the region's urban water system comprises water in the pipe network. As no major pipe network changes were made, this volume is assumed to remain unchanged throughout the year.
- The balancing item is likely attributed to metering inaccuracies, unaccounted losses, and uncertainties in the estimation of certain volumes (see Methods).
Urban water system flows
Figure S8 Water inflows and outflows for the urban water system during the 2016–17 year
- A more detailed breakdown of the inflows and outflows of the urban water system components is provided in the urban water balance diagram.
Water supply inflows
Figure S9 Water sources used in Adelaide's urban supply system during the 2016–17 year compared with the previous six years
- Total inflows to the urban supply system was 147,690 ML, a 4% decrease from the previous year.
- Surface water diversion made up 87% of total urban supply. This is the highest contribution in over 5 years as the improved rainfall conditions across the region meant there was more surface water available to meet demand (see Surface water store).
- Inter-region water supply from the River Murray made up 10% of the total urban supply, compared to 82% last year. The increase in the region's surface water availability meant there was much less reliance on inter-region transfers for urban water supply.
- Desalinated water made up 3% of urban supply, the smallest contribution to the urban system since the Adelaide desalination plant was commissioned in 2012.
Wastewater and recycled water inflows
- Wastewater collected was 107,139 ML during the 2016–17 year.
Water supply outflows
Figure S10 Outflows from the water supply system
- The majority of water supply outflow was supply system delivery: urban users.
- Approximately 11% of the total outflow from the urban supply system was related to losses.
Wastewater and recycled water system outflows
Figure S11 Outflows from the wastewater and recycled water systems
- Approximately 19% of the treated wastewater was recycled, including recycled water delivery: irrigation and recycled water delivery: urban users.
- Most of the remaining treated wastewater was discharge: sea.
Irrigation water
- The Adelaide region's irrigation scheme is represented by three individual systems: Barossa Infrastructure Limited, Willunga Basin Water Company, and the Virginia Pipeline Scheme.
| 2017 ML | 2016 ML | |
| Opening irrigation scheme store | – | – |
| Inflows | 20,892 | 30,881 |
| Outflows | (21,879) | (28,815) |
| Balancing item | 987 | (2,066) |
| Closing irrigation scheme store | – | – |
- The volume of water in the region's irrigation system comprises water in the channel network. As no major changes were made to this network, this volume is assumed to remain unchanged throughout the year.
- The balancing item may be due to a number of factors, such as metering inaccuracies and unaccounted losses (see Methods).
Irrigation scheme flows
Figure S12 Water inflows and outflows for the irrigation scheme during the 2016–17 year
- Total inflows to the irrigation scheme was 20,892 ML, which was 32% less than the previous year. The drop in irrigation water demand can be attributed to the improved rainfall conditions across the region, particularly during the winter and spring months (see Climate and water).
- Delivery: recycled water from the region's urban wastewater system made up around 70% of the total supply, similar to the previous year.