Adelaide: Key findings

For the water account period 1 July 2019–30 June 2020

  • Below-average annual rainfall contributed to low streamflow across the region.
  • End-of-year storage was slightly more than last year due to high rainfall in late Autumn 2020.
  • Consumptive water use was 226 GL, around 10% lower than last year.

Climate and water

Rainfall

Rainfall icon

558 mm

below the average of 630 mm

Streamflow

Streamflow icon

below average

for most of the year

Storage

Storage icon

50% full

arrowpointingup

8% more than last year

Water use

Water sourced

Graph showing breakdown of water sources used in the Adelaide region. A total of 226 GL of water was used in the region in 2019–20. Inter-region deliveries made up 46% of total water sourced. Surface water made up 16%, groundwater 20%, and desalinated water 18% of water sourced.

Water supplied

Graph showing breakdown of water users in the Adelaide region. A total of 226 GL of water was supplied to users in 2019–20. 74% of total water supply was for the urban system. 21% was for individual users and 5% for irrigation.

* Includes non-allocated water use

Water status

Allocations

267 GL

total surface water and groundwater allocations

Water assets

186 GL

water assets at 30 June 2020

7 GL more than last year

Outlook

Increase

in storage expected during the 2020–21 year