National Water Account 2019

Perth: Key findings

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

  • Despite the 2018 winter being the wettest since 2000, total annual rainfall was below average.
  • The high winter rainfall contributed to increases in aquifer and surface water storage.
  • End of year surface water storage increased to 47% full, the highest in more than 10 years.

Climate and water

Rainfall

Rainfall icon

655 mm

below the average of 786 mm

Streamflow

Streamflow icon

about average

similar to last year

Storage

Storage icon

47% full

arrowpointingup

6% more than last year

Water use

Water sourced

Graph showing breakdown of water sources used in the Perth region. A total of 776,225 ML of water was used in the region in 2018–19. Groundwater made up 66% of total water use; desalinated water made up 19% of the use; surface water made up 15% of the use; and inter-region supply made up less than 1% of the water use.

Water supplied

Graph showing breakdown of water users in the Perth region. A total of 776,225 ML of water was supplied to users in 2018–19. 54% of total water supply was for individual users; 37% was for the urban system and 9% was for the irrigation scheme.

Water status

Allocations

865 GL

total surface water and groundwater allocations

Water assets

456 GL

water assets at 30 June 2019

25 GL more than last year

Outlook

Decrease

in storage expected during the 2019–20 year