Overview
- Dry conditions were experienced across most of Australia for the second successive year.
- Storage volumes in parts of southeastern Australia were the lowest in more than ten years.
- Total water taken in Australia for consumptive use was 15 100 GL, 10 percent less than last year.
- Information on Australia's water use is available in the Bureau's Water in Australia 2018–19.
Climate and water
Annual rainfall during 2018–19 compared with historical records (1911–2019)
- Australia's total annual rainfall in 2018–19 was 351 mm, the lowest in almost 50 years.
- Below-average annual rainfall over much of Australia led to an intensification of drought conditions across many parts of southeastern Australia, particularly the northern parts of the Murray–Darling Basin.
- Northwestern Australia was also dry, with a delayed monsoon onset contributing to a below-average wet season.
- Annual rainfall was high across northern Queensland due to an intense monsoon low that impacted the region in late January to early February 2019.
Streamflow during 2018–19 compared with historical records (1975–2019)
- Streamflow in most rivers across southeastern Australia was lower than average and many rivers recorded their lowest annual flows on record, particularly across northern New South Wales.
- Several rivers in northern Queensland recorded their highest annual flows on record. Heavy rainfall in early 2019 produced extensive flooding in Townsville, major flooding in the Burdekin River and high flows into Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre.
- Groundwater levels across much of Australia were also lower than average. Most of the aquifer bores had stable or declining trends in water level.
Percentage full at 30 June 2019 for rural storage systems
Percentage full at 30 June 2019 for urban storage systems
- Total accessible surface water storage for Australia at 30 June 2019 was 23 002 GL or 46 percent full, 17 percentage points less than the same time last year.
- Dry conditions across southeastern Australia meant storage volumes in some of the major storage systems across the Murray–Darling Basin were less than 20 percent full and much lower than last year, particularly in the northern part of the basin.
- End of year storages in South East Queensland and Sydney were the lowest in more than 10 years, and for Canberra and Melbourne, the lowest since 2010.
- Most of the rural systems in northern Queensland had storage levels above 80 percent full, reflecting the heavy rainfall and flooding in January–March 2019.
Water sources and supply
Water taken by use category and source in 2018–19
- Total water taken for consumptive water use in 2018–19 was 15 100 GL, 10 percent lower than the previous year.
- Surface water was the primary water source, particularly for agriculture, due to its easy accessibility and low abstraction cost.
- Total water taken for agricultural use decreased by 14 percent from 2017–18, largely due to the dry conditions and lower water availability across the Murray–Darling Basin.
- The portion of total water sourced from groundwater increased from the previous year due to the lower surface water allocations for agriculture.
- About 20 percent of total water taken was for urban water supply. More information on Australia's urban systems is available in the Bureau's National Performance Report 2018–19.
- The dry conditions and low water availability resulted in a 24 per cent decrease in the volume of water allocations traded compared to 2017–18 but a tripling of average allocation prices due to strong demand for the limited available water. More information on water trade across Australia is available in the Bureau's Australian Water Markets Report 2018–19.