National Water Account 2020

Burdekin: Key findings

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

  • Below-average annual rainfall contributed to low flows in the Burdekin River for most of the year.
  • End-of-year storage was only 6% less than last year due to heavy rainfall in late-January 2020.
  • Total water use was 1,011 GL, 19% above last year's volume, reflecting the dry conditions.

Climate and water

Rainfall

Rainfall icon

464 mm

below the average of 656 mm

Streamflow

Streamflow icon

below average

for most of the year

Storage

Storage icon

93% full

arrowpointingdown

6% less than last year

Water use

Water sourced

Graph showing breakdown of water sources used in the Burdekin region. A total of 853 GL of water was used in the region in 2019–20. Surface water made up 80% of total water use; groundwater made up 20% of the use.

Water supplied

Graph showing breakdown of water users in the Burdekin region. A total of 853 GL of water was supplied to users in 2019–20. 55% of total water supply was for the irrigation scheme; 43% was for individual users; <1% was for the urban system; and 2% was for inter-region supply.

* Includes non-allocated water use

Water status

Allocations

1,249 GL

total surface water and groundwater allocations

Water assets

2,102 GL

water assets at 30 June 2020

81 GL less than last year

Outlook

Increase

in storage expected during the 2020–21 year