Canberra: Water stores
- Dry conditions contributed to very low runoff across the region and a decrease in storage volumes.
- 92% of the region's total water supply was for urban use, all of which came from surface water storages.
- Water supply for urban use was 53 GL, similar to last year.
For a water balance of each of the region's water stores for the 2018–19 year scroll down this page or click on the links below:
Surface water store
| Description | Volume (ML) | |
| Opening surface water store | 236,639 | |
| add | Inflows | 227,243 |
| less | Outflows | 245,947 |
| add | Balancing item | (15,825) |
| Closing surface water store | 202,110 | |
- The volume of surface water in the region decreased from 237 GL at 1 July 2018 to 202 GL at 30 June 2019.
- The balancing item is approximately 8% of the closing surface water store and is primarily attributed to uncertainties associated with the runoff and outflow estimates (see Methods).
Surface water flows
Figure S3 Water inflows and outflows for the surface water store during the 2018–19 year
- The largest natural water flows in the region were runoff and river outflow. Both were well below average due to the dry conditions experienced across the region (see Climate and water).
- Total surface water diverted in the region was 56,148 ML.
- 94% of the total diversion was for the urban system while 6% was supplied to individual users under allocated diversions and statutory rights.
- For a more detailed description of the water usage in the region, and the associated entitlements, see the Water access and use note.
Groundwater store
| Description | Volume (ML) | |
| Opening groundwater store | – | |
| add | Inflows | 47,639 |
| less | Outflows | 1,198 |
| add | Balancing item | (46,441) |
| Closing groundwater store | – | |
- The volume of groundwater in the region is assumed to remain unchanged throughout the year.
- The large groundwater balancing item is primarily due to the fact that key groundwater fluxes, including discharge to the landscape and to the rivers, cannot be quantified.
Groundwater flows
Figure S4 Water inflows and outflows for the groundwater store during the 2018–19 year
- Groundwater movement across the region boundary, as well as surface water–groundwater interactions, are considered to occur within the region; however, most of these flows could not be quantified due to a lack of available data.
- Total groundwater extracted in the region was 1,198 ML.
- All of the groundwater extractions were for individual users; 64% of the total were allocated extractions while 36% was made under a statutory right.
- For a more detailed description of the water usage in the region, and the associated entitlements, see the Water access and use note.
Urban water system
| Description | Volume (ML) | |
| Opening urban water system | 966 | |
| add | Inflows | 90,413 |
| less | Outflows | 87,447 |
| add | Balancing item | (2,966) |
| Closing urban water system | 966 | |
- The volume of water stored in the region's urban system comprises water in the distribution pipe network. As no major pipe network changes were made, this volume is assumed to remain unchanged throughout the year.
- The balancing item is likely attributed to metering inaccuracies, unaccounted losses, and uncertainties in the estimation of certain volumes (see Methods).
Urban water system flows
Figure S5 Water inflows and outflows for the urban water system during the 2018–19 year
Water supply inflows
Figure S6 Water sources used in Canberra's urban supply system during the 2018–19 year compared with the previous eight years
- Total inflow to the water supply system was 52,961 ML, similar to the previous year.
- Surface water diversions from the region's storages make up 100% of the urban supply.
Wastewater and recycled water inflows
- Wastewater collected was 37,452 ML during the 2018–19 year.
Water supply outflows
Figure S7 Outflows from the water supply system
- The majority of water supply outflow was supply system delivery to urban users.
- 8% of the total outflow from the urban supply system was related to leakage and other losses.
Wastewater and recycled water outflows
Figure S8 Outflows from the wastewater and recycled water systems
- Almost the entire volume of treated wastewater was discharge to surface water.
- Less than 1% of the treated wastewater was recycled, similar to last year.