Murray–Darling Basin: Statement of Water Assets and Water Liabilities
as at 30 June 2017
The volume of water available in the Murray–Darling Basin region at 30 June 2017 was 16,810,159 ML, compared with 14,453,758 ML at the start of the 2016–17 year. Water availability is represented by the net water assets, which are the volume of water assets minus the water liabilities.
The Statement of Water Assets and Water Liabilities is provided in the table below. The statement presents the volume of water assets, and water liabilities at the start and end of the reporting year.
| 2017 ML | 2016 ML | |
|---|---|---|
| Water assets | ||
| Surface water | 19,084,345 | 13,521,272 |
| Storages | 15,937,264 | 9,059,525 |
| Rivers | 976,365 | 1,960,497 |
| Lakes and wetlands | 1,890,208 | 1,875,002 |
| Claims: inter-region | 267,600 | 608,143 |
| Other assets | 12,908 | 18,105 |
| Groundwater | 3,333,740 | 3,333,740 |
| Aquifers | 3,333,740 | 3,333,740 |
| Total water assets | 22,418,085 | 16,855,012 |
| Water liabilities | ||
| Surface water liability | 4,732,628 | 1,673,257 |
| Allocation remaining: individual users | 3,858,844 | 1,162,920 |
| Allocation remaining: urban system | 0 | 0 |
| Allocation remaining: environmental purposes | 873,784 | 510,337 |
| Groundwater liability | 875,298 | 727,997 |
| Allocation remaining: individual users | 864,762 | 723,668 |
| Allocation remaining: urban system | 0 | 0 |
| Allocation remaining: environmental purposes | 10,536 | 4,329 |
| Total water liabilities | 5,607,926 | 2,401,254 |
| Opening net water assets | 14,453,758 | 13,424,928 |
| Change in net water assets | 2,356,401 | 1,028,830 |
| Closing net water assets | 16,810,159 | 14,453,758 |