Urban regions: Overview
- Urban water supply was about 2,480 GL, similar to last year.
- There was a 15% increase in surface water supplied to urban water systems.
- In Adelaide and Melbourne, there was reduced reliance on inter-region transfers.
- Desalinated water made up more than half of urban supply in Perth.
Climate and water
Rainfall across Australia during July 2016–June 2017 compared with historical records (1911–2016)
- Relatively high rainfall occurred in most regions early in the year, particularly during September–October 2016, when climate was influenced by a negative Indian Ocean Dipole phase that is associated with higher winter–spring rainfall.
- In the South East Queensland region, a large proportion of the annual rainfall occurred in March 2017 due to heavy rainfall associated with ex-tropical cyclone Debbie.
- Except for Adelaide, below-average rainfall was experienced across urban regions for most months of the year.
Percentage-full volume during 1 July 2014–30 June 2017 for urban region storages
- Heavy rainfall and high streamflows during September–October 2016 contributed to an increase in storage volumes in Adelaide, Canberra and Melbourne from last year.
- In Perth, storage volumes increased during the year due to a combination of improved rainfall conditions and reduced diversions for urban supply compared to previous years.
- Storage volumes in South East Queensland and Sydney dropped from last year despite heavy rainfall and high streamflows in March 2017.
Water availability
Water allocations and abstractions in the urban regions for 2016–17
- Total water allocations of 3,580,200 ML were similar to the previous year.
- 63% of allocated water was abstracted, compared to 60% last year.
- In Adelaide, there was a large increase in allocated surface water diversions for consumptive use as improved rainfall conditions meant more surface water was available to meet demand.
Water sources and supply
Total water sourced in the urban regions for 2016–17
- Total water sourced by the urban regions was 2,478,200 ML, marginally less than the previous year.
- Surface water made up 63% of total water supply, compared to 54% last year, and was the dominant source of water in all urban regions except for Perth.
- Improved rainfall conditions in Adelaide and Melbourne meant there was more surface water available this year to meet demand, and less reliance on inter-region transfers.
- In Perth, desalinated water supply increased for the sixth consecutive year due to low surface water availability.
Users of water in the urban regions for the 2016–17 year
- 73% of total water supply was used for the urban water system.
- 24% was used for individual users including the industrial, commercial and agricultural sectors.
- In contrast, more than half of Perth’s water supply was for individual users, primarily for agricultural use.
Urban water use
Water sources and volumes for the regions' urban systems for years 30 June 2012–30 June 2017
- In all urban regions, urban water supply was similar to, or marginally less than, the previous year.
- In Adelaide and Melbourne, inter-region transfers from the Murray River and Thomson Reservoir respectively were the lowest in several years; surface water contribution was the highest in several years.
- In Perth, desalinated water provided more than half of the urban water supply. Internal transfers of urban water into the reservoirs for storage exceeded diversions, which resulted in net surface water supply being negative for the first time.
- Desalinated water production commenced at Melbourne's Wonthaggi Desalination Plant based on an order made last year when surface water stores were low.