National Water Account 2019

Adelaide: Key findings

For the water account period 1 July 2018–30 June 2019

  • Below-average annual rainfall contributed to very low streamflow across the region.
  • End of year storage was only slightly less than last year due to high rainfall in winter 2019.
  • Water use was 252 GL, around 9% higher than last year, reflecting the dry conditions.

Climate and water

Rainfall

Rainfall icon

495 mm

below the average of 620 mm

Streamflow

Streamflow icon

below average

for most of the year

Storage

Storage icon

46% full

arrowpointingdown

slightly less than last year

Water use

Water sourced

Graph showing breakdown of water sources used in the Adelaide region. A total of 231,508 ML of water was used in the region in 2018–19. Surface water made up 47% of total water use, with groundwater and inter-region transfer representing 27% and 24% respectively. The remaining 2% was sourced from desalination.

Water supplied

Graph showing breakdown of water users in the Adelaide region. A total of 231,508 ML of water was supplied to users in 2018–19. 70% of total water supply was for the urban system; 28% was for individual users and 2% for irrigation.

* Includes non-allocated water use

Water status

Allocations

254 GL

total surface water and groundwater allocations

Water assets

179 GL

water assets at 30 June 2019

slightly less than last year

Outlook

similar

storage levels expected at 30 June 2020 to last year