Adelaide: Water access and use
- About 56% of the region's water allocations were for urban supply, mostly from surface water storages; the remainder were for individual users.
- Overall water use was 19% lower than last year reflecting the drier conditions across the region.
For further information on water rights and water use within the Adelaide region during the year scroll down this page or click on the links below:
Water rights and use
Surface water rights
Figure S12 Surface water allocation for water resource plan subareas in the region
- There are approximately 2,000 surface water licences in the region, mostly for water sourced from the Western Mount Lofty Ranges Prescribed Water Resource Area. More information is available on the Bureau's Water Markets Dashboard.
Figure S13 Surface water allocations and diversions in the Adelaide region for the years ending 30 June, from 2014–2018
- Total allocated diversions to the urban system decreased by 17% from last year. This decrease was influenced by the drier conditions across the region compared to last year, which meant there was less 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 this increased from last year; however, total diversions to the urban system (allocated and non-allocated water supply) increased by 10% from 2016–17.
- Despite an increase in allocations to individual users, actual diversions to individual users was around 30% less than last year.
Groundwater rights
Figure S14 Groundwater allocation to water management areas in the region
- There are approximately 4,000 groundwater licences in the region, mostly for water sourced from the Western Mount Lofty Ranges Prescribed Water Resource Area. More information is available on the Bureau's Water Markets Dashboard.
Figure S15 Groundwater allocations and extractions in the Adelaide region for the years ending 30 June, from 2013–2018
- Groundwater extraction for individual users increased by more than 30% from last year, reflecting the reduced rainfall conditions and decreased surface water availability across the region.
- Extraction by individuals under statutory rights also increased during 2017–18 due to the drier conditions across the region.
Water market activity
- Most the water trade in the region is related to groundwater. In 2017–18, 260 ML of groundwater allocations and 7,327 ML of groundwater entitlements were traded.
- In terms of surface water, 4 ML of allocations and 1,742 ML of entitlements were traded during the year.
- Further information on water traded in the Adelaide region can be accessed via the Bureau of Meteorology's Water Market Dashboard.
Cultural and environmental water
Cultural benefit
- 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).
- Refer to the cultural water management section of the 'Contextual information' for further information on water for cultural benefit.
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'.
Planned unregulated surface water
Environmental water provisions
- Environmental water provisions in the region are defined for rivers in the Barossa and Western Mount Lofty Ranges Prescribed Water Resource Areas.
- 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.
- The environmental flow requirements, which were developed to ensure that the frequency and seasonality of streamflows closely resembles what would occur naturally, are described in more detail in the Plan.
- 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. These provisions are detailed in sections 2.3–2.5 of the plan.
Environmental water outcomes
Figure S16 Daily flow in the North Para river compared with the required flow regime during the 2017–18 year
- During 2017–18, flow at this location met the freshet flow threshold for most of the first half of the year, but subsequently remained dry for several months. Dry conditions meant that pool connection or mid-flow maintenance flow thresholds were not met during the year
Planned partly regulated surface water
Environmental water provisions
- Environmental water requirements are met by operational releases from storages to control or influence flows.
- During the 2017–18 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 water outcomes
- In the Western Mount Lofty Ranges Prescribed Water Resource Area, 9,162 ML of water was released as environmental flows in 2017–18.