Burdekin: Water stores
- Below-average rainfall during most of the year contributed to relatively low runoff across the region.
- Water supply to irrigation schemes was higher than last year, which reflected the drier conditions.
For a water balance on each of the region's water stores for the 2017–18 year scroll down this page or click on the links below:
Surface water store
| Description | Volume (ML) | |
| Opening surface water store | 1,946,398 | |
| add | Inflows | 8,220,593 |
| less | Outflows | 7,571,605 |
| add | Balancing item | (705,285) |
| Closing surface water store | 1,890,101 | |
- The volume of surface water in the region decreased from 1,946,398 ML at 1 July 2017 to 1,890,101 ML at 30 June 2018.
- The balancing item is primarily attributed to uncertainties associated with the runoff, which is estimated from a combination of observed streamflow and a rainfall–runoff model (see Methods).
Surface water flows
Figure S3 Water inflows and outflows for the surface water store during the 2017–18 year
- The largest natural water flows in the region were runoff and river outflow. Runoff was relatively low reflecting below-average rainfall across the region for most of the year. In contrast, outflow was high, which was primarily due to very high streamflow in the Burdekin River during March–April 2018 following heavy rainfall in the northern part of the region (see Climate and water).
- Total surface water diverted in the region was 797,661 ML.
- Most of the surface water diversion was supplied to the irrigation scheme; less than 1% was for town supply.
- For a more detailed description of the water usage in the region, and the associated allocations, see the Surface water rights note.
Groundwater store
| Description | Volume (ML) | |
| Opening groundwater store | 98,478 | |
| add | Inflows | 142,028 |
| less | Outflows | 156,681 |
| add | Balancing item | 84,879 |
| Closing groundwater store | 168,704 | |
- The groundwater asset in the region is equivalent to the total allocated and non-allocated licensed entitlement volume.
Groundwater flows
Figure S4 Water inflows and outflows for the groundwater store during the 2017–18 year
- Groundwater movement across the region boundary, as well as surface water–groundwater interactions, are considered to occur within the region; however, these flows could not be quantified due to a lack of available data.
- The only water inflow into the region's aquifers that could be quantified was managed aquifer recharge.
- Total groundwater extracted in the region was 156,681 ML.
- Around 72% of the groundwater extractions was for individual users; 27% was for the irrigation scheme. Less than 1% was for town supply.
- For a more detailed description of the water usage in the region, and the associated entitlements, see the Groundwater rights note.