Urban regions: Overview
- Dry conditions were experienced across urban regions within southeastern Australia.
- Storage volumes in South East Queensland and Sydney were the lowest in more than 10 years.
- Urban region water supply was about 2,680 GL, around 3% more than last year.
- Information on urban water providers is available in the Bureau's National Performance Report 2018-19.
Climate and Water
Rainfall across Australia during July 2018–June 2019 compared with historical records (1911–2018)
- Below-average annual rainfall occurred across most of southern Australia, including all the urban regions. Annual rainfall in South East Queensland was below average for the fourth consecutive year.
- Annual rainfall in some parts of the Adelaide and South East Queensland regions was the lowest on record.
- Despite annual rainfall in Perth being below average, rainfall during the 2018 winter months was the wettest since 2000.
Percentage-full volume during 1 July 2013–30 June 2019 for urban region storages
- Below-average rainfall across southeastern Australia led to decreased storage volumes in Adelaide, Canberra, Melbourne, South East Queensland, and Sydney regions from last year. Storage volumes in Canberra, South East Queensland, and Sydney declined for almost the entire year.
- 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.
- In Perth, storage volumes increased for the third consecutive year. The increase in 2018–19 was influenced by high storage inflows following a very wet winter in 2018. Surface water storage levels in October 2018 peaked at 66% full, the highest storage in the region in more than 10 years.
Water availability
Water allocations and abstractions in the urban regions for 2018-19
- Total water allocations were 3,725,300 ML, slightly higher than last year.
- 61% of allocated water was used, similar to last year.
- Allocated groundwater use increased by almost 5% from last year. This increase was likely influenced by the drier conditions across most of the urban regions resulting in an increased demand for water from aquifers.
Water sources and supply
Total water sourced in the urban regions for 2018–19
- Total water sourced by the urban regions was 2,657,500 ML.
- Surface water made up 66% of total water supply and was the predominant source of water in all urban regions except for Perth.
- In Sydney, desalinated water was used for the first time since 2011–12. The desalination plant commenced operation in January 2019 when WaterNSW's total operating storage capacity dropped below 60%.
Users of water in the urban regions for 2018–19
- 72% of total water supply in urban regions was used for the urban system.
- Individual users, including the industrial, commercial and agricultural sectors, accounted for 25% of water supplied.
- In contrast to other urban regions, more than half of Perth’s water supply was for individual users, primarily for agricultural use.
- The National Water Account presents the volumes of water supplied to urban systems, irrigation schemes, and individual users for each region. The Bureau's National Performance Report focuses only on water supplied to urban systems.
Urban water use
Urban system water sources and volumes for years 30 June 2012–30 June 2019
- Water sourced for the urban systems in Adelaide and South East Queensland was more than 6% higher than last year. This increase was influenced by the drier conditions across southeastern Australia.
- In Adelaide, the low runoff and inflow into the region's storages meant more inter-region transfers from the River Murray were required to meet urban demand.
- All major urban centres that have desalination plants increased the volume of supply compared to 2017–18 in response to lower water availability. The exception was Perth, where consecutive years of high storage inflows meant surface water could be used as a major source of urban supply and the region's desalination plants were not required to run at near capacity for the first time in several years.