Bureau Home » Water Information » National Water Account » 2019 Account » Adelaide » Supporting information » Water access and use

National Water Account 2019

Adelaide: Water access and use

  • 56% of the region's water allocations were for urban supply, all from surface water resources.
  • Around 40% of the total water allocation was used in 2018–19 compared with 64% used last year.

 

ADE_KeyMessage

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

Clarendon Weir, Adelaide region (CSIRO © John Coppi)

 

Surface water rights

Graph of surface water allocation for water resource plan areas in the region

Figure S12 Surface water allocation for water resource plan areas 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.
  • 23% of the allocated surface water was used, mostly for urban system supply.

 

Graph of surface water allocations and diversions in the Adelaide region for the years ending 30 June, from 2013–2019

Figure S13 Surface water allocations and diversions in the Adelaide region for the years ending 30 June, from 2013–2019

 

  • Allocated diversion to the urban system was much lower than the previous two years. This decrease was influenced by the very dry conditions across the region, which meant there was less surface water available to meet urban demand.
  • Non-allocated diversion to the urban system comprises water that was imported from the River Murray and stored within the region's storages. Low runoff and storage inflows in 2018–19 meant SA Water had to increase its reliance on inter-region water supply from the River Murray to meet urban demand.
  • Diversions for individual users was similar to last year.

 

Groundwater rights

Graph of groundwater allocation for water resource plan areas in the region

Figure S14 Groundwater allocation for water resource plan 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 and the Northern Adelaide Plains Prescribed Wells Area.
  • 67% of the allocated groundwater was used, mostly by individual users for agricultural use.

 

Graph of groundwater allocations and extractions in the Adelaide region for the years ending 30 June, from 2013–2019

Figure S15 Groundwater allocations and extractions in the Adelaide region for the years ending 30 June, from 2013–2019

 

  • Groundwater extraction for individual users increased by more than 20% from last year. This increase was likely influenced by the dry conditions and low surface water availability across the region.

 

Water market activity

Irrigation, Adelaide region (iStock © Phillip Minnis)

 

  • Most of the water trade in the region is related to groundwater. In 2018–19, 797 ML of groundwater allocations and 4,563 ML of groundwater entitlements were traded.
  • In terms of surface water, 900 ML of entitlements were traded during the year.
  • For more information on water markets in the region, see the Bureau of Meteorology's Water Market Dashboard.

 

Environmental water

Murray River, South Australia (istock © Robyn Brody)

 

Planned unregulated surface water

Environmental water provisions

  • Environmental water provisions are defined for rivers in the Barossa and Western Mount Lofty Ranges prescribed water resource areas to maintain the rivers' natural ecological processes.
  • More detailed descriptions of the environmental water provisions in these areas are provided in section 2 of the Barossa and Western Mount Lofty Ranges water allocations plans.

 

Environmental water outcomes

  • One example of the environmental water outcomes relating to the North Para River within the Barossa Prescribed Water Resource Area is highlighted below.

 

Graph of daily flow in the North Para river compared with the required flow regime during the 2018–19 year
Figure S16 Daily flow in the North Para river compared with the required flow regime during the 2018–19 year

 

  • In 2018–19, streamflow in the North Para River at Yaldara (Station A5050502) exceeded the freshet flow threshold throughout July–September 2018, as well as some periods during October–November 2018.
  • Streamflow did not reach the freshet flow threshold on any day during the 6-month period between December 2018–May 2019 due to the very dry conditions across the region.
  • Streamflow was well below the pool connection and mid-flow maintenance flow thresholds in 2018–19 for the second successive year.

 

Planned partly regulated surface water

Environmental water provisions

  • Environmental water requirements are defined within the Western Mount Lofty Ranges Prescribed Water Resource Area for the operational release of water from storages to control or influence streamflows.
  • Information on the volume of water released during 2018–19 was not available prior to the publication of this account.