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Adelaide: Supporting information

  • Rainfall during the 2021–22 year was close to average, although a lack of rainfall from December 2021 to April 2022 resulted in low runoff and streamflow across the region.
  • Total storage volumes increased by 2 percentage points during the 2021–22 year to finish at 50% full by 30 June 2022, the highest end-of-year storage since 2016–17.
  • 22% of surface water allocations and 40% of groundwater allocations were taken in 2021–22.

Schematic representation of the Adelaide region. In 2021–22, runoff was 12% less than average. Storage volumes at 30 June 2022 were 50% full, slightly lower than the previous year. 22% of the total surface water allocation (14 GL) was taken. 40% of the total groundwater allocation (109 GL) was taken.

For further information on the region's water accounting statements scroll down this page or click on the links below:

 

Water assets

Kangaroo Creek Reservoir, Adelaide region (Bureau of Meteorology © SA Office)

 

  • Total water asset volumes in the region at 30 June 2022 were 187 GL, around 53% of which was water held in surface water storages.
  • Around 46% of the water assets are held in aquifers, while the remaining volume of water assets is held in rivers.

 

Table S1 Accessible storage volume at 30 June 2022 compared with the previous ten years
  2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012
Barossa 4,041 4,062 3,818 3,962 3,602 4,152 4,009 4,177 4,141 4,124 3,971
Happy Valley 8,347 6,912 6,101 7,086 6,854 6,796 6,768 6,527 5,803 5,679 5,571
Hope Valley 1,279 1,362 1,155 1,083 757 1,556 1,582 938 1,397 916 992
Kangaroo Creek 4,907 4,067 6,127 3,682 313 3,426 3,493 4,347 11,517 5,354 5,534
Little Para 6,200 5,557 9,723 7,977 7,378 12,085 9,032 8,504 9,002 6,412 4,058
Millbrook 8,850 7,292 7,763 7,326 7,765 5,418 9,773 5,790 8,474 8,444 9,550
Mount Bold 11,253 12,403 12,296 13,852 7,133 13,088 24,432 11,863 26,060 9,335 11,629
Myponga 23,494 22,970 22,037 19,816 21,625 23,406 20,294 20,826 21,946 21,718 21,204
South Para 20,252 19,040 16,541 15,534 27,776 32,894 14,052 22,327 24,964 15,100 25,875
Warren 4,786 4,776 4,844 4,806 2,760 2,263 3,858 3,120 3,103 3,857 2,786
Accessible total 93,409 88,441 90,405 85,124 85,963 105,084 97,293 88,419 116,407 80,939 91,170
Dead storage 6,234 6,234 6,234 6,234 6,234 6,234 6,234 6,234 6,234 6,234 6,234
Total storage 99,643 94,675 96,639 91,358 92,197 111,318 103,527 94,653 122,641 87,173 97,404
Total capacity 198,729 198,729 198,729 198,729 198,729 198,729 198,729 198,729 198,729 198,729 198,729
% full 50.1% 47.6% 48.6% 46.0% 46.4% 56.0% 52.1% 47.6% 61.7% 43.9% 49.0%

 

  • Storage volume increased slightly from 48% full at 30 June 2021 to 50% full at 30 June 2022.
  • The end-of-year storage at 30 June 2022 was the highest end-of-year storage volume since 2016-17.

 

Map of Adelaide region showing the status of each storage at 30 June 2022. The storages are colour coded into ten categories of volume as a proportion of capacity. Myponga, Happy Valley, Hope Valley, Barossa, and Warren storages were over 80% full. Mount Bold, South Para, Kangaroo Creek, Millbrook, and Little Para storages were less than 50% full. An inset line graph shows the time series of percentage-full storage volume between 1 July 2013–30 June 2022. Adelaide storages at 30 June 2022 were 50.1% full, slightly more than last year.
Figure S1 Percentage-full volume on 30 June 2022 for each storage and total storage volume from 2009–2022 (inset)

  • Storage volume rose steadily throughout winter and spring, peaking at 73% full, following average to above-average rainfall from July 2021 to November 2021.
  • A lack of rainfall over summer and into autumn resulted in storages falling below 50%, however, after above-average rainfall during May and June, end-of-year storages were 50% full by 30 June 2022.
  • More detailed information on the individual storages within the region is available on the Bureau of Meteorology's Water Storage website.

 

Water liabilities

Sturt Mitigation Dam, Adelaide region (Bureau of Meteorology © SA Office)

 

  • Water liabilities in the Adelaide region refer to the volume of allocation remaining on licence entitlements at the end of the 2021–22 year.

 

Table S2 Volume of surface water allocation remaining at 30 June 2022
Description Surface water (ML)
  Opening balance at 1 July 2021 332
add Allocation 13,746
less Allocated diversion 2,967
less Adjustment and forfeiture 10,763
  Closing balance at 30 June 2022 348

 

Table S3 Volume of groundwater allocation remaining at 30 June 2022
Description Groundwater (ML)
  Opening balance at 1 July 2021 35,445
add Allocation 109,110
less Allocated extraction 43,539
less Adjustment and forfeiture 53,538
  Closing balance at 30 June 2022 47,434

 

  • The surface water licences in the Adelaide region have a management year that ends on 30 June.
  • Allocation remaining for groundwater supply in the region at the end of the year was 47 GL.
  • The Barossa Prescribed Water Resources Area licensees for the North Para River and tributaries may carry over the unused portion of their allocation.
  • A more detailed description of water allocations in the Adelaide region is given in the Water use section below.

 

Water flows

Onkaparinga River mouth, Adelaide region (istock © anonymous)

 

  • Total water inflows into the Adelaide region was 1,035 GL, 7% more than last year.
  • Surface water inflows contributed 440 GL (42%) of total water inflows. Runoff contributed to 45% of the total surface water inflows.
  • Groundwater inflows contributed 285 GL (28%) of total water inflows. Recharge from landscape contributed to 91% of the total groundwater inflows.
  • Urban water inflows contributed 277 GL (27%) of total water inflows. Diversion of surface water. contributed to 58% of the total urban water inflows.
  • Irrigation scheme inflows contributed 32 GL (3%) of total water inflows. Recycled water received from urban water system contributed to 63% of the total irrigation scheme inflows.
  • Total water outflows from the Adelaide region was 805 GL, 10% more than last year.
  • Surface water outflows contributed 379 GL (47%) of total water outflows. Diversion to the urban system contributed to 43% of the total surface water outflows.
  • Groundwater outflows contributed 120 GL (15%) of total water outflows. Discharge to surface water contributed to 61% of the total groundwater outflows.
  • Urban water outflows contributed 272 GL (34%) of total water outflows. Supply of drinking water to urban users contributed to 51% of the total urban water outflows.
  • Irrigation scheme outflows contributed 34 GL (4%) of total water outflows. Irrigation delivery contributed to 100% of the total irrigation scheme outflows.
  • A more detailed breakdown of inflows and outflows is given in the Statement of Changes in Water Assets and Water Liabilities for the Adelaide region.

 

Water availability

 

Table S4 Annual surface water available in the Adelaide region from 2011-12 to 2021-22
  2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012
Water availability 298,392 224,026 239,776 204,933 326,106 570,736 219,082 287,112 385,937 242,438 327,756
Water accessible 176,043 178,397 143,003 181,098 173,137 156,614 158,391 144,397 105,083 131,501 154,218
Water taken 164,932 166,367 130,940 171,230 160,649 148,573 153,088 138,083 101,824 128,717 151,922

 

  • Physical surface water availability is calculated as the sum of storage volumes at the start of the year (see Water assets) and estimated inflows into storages and rivers during the year.
  • Surface water availability in the Adelaide region in 2021–22 was above average for the third consecutive year.
  • Surface water accessible is calculated as the sum of surface water allocations and other statutory rights, plus carryover at the start of the year. 
  • Water taken during the year is influenced by the physical water available. Typically, water taken from surface water resources is lower than water availability and water accessible.
  • Despite physical surface water availability being higher compared to the previous few years, water taken from surface water resources was slightly lower than last year. This was likely influenced by improved rainfall and wetter catchment conditions which meant there was less demand for consumptive use during the year.

 

Water use

City of Adelaide, Torrens River, South Australia (CSIRO © Willem van Aken)

 

Consumptive use

 

Table S5 Surface water taken for consumptive use in the Adelaide region for the previous four years
Surface Water 2022 2021 2020 2019
Barossa Valley PWRA 1,919 2,221 1,905 1,567
Individual users 1,919 2,221 1,905 1,567
Urban system - - - -
Western Mount Lofty Ranges PWRA 58,048 59,087 56,974 63,930
Individual users 1,046 1,137 1,105 2,161
Urban systems 57,002 57,950 55,869 61,769
Others 104,965 105,059 72,061 105,733
Individual users 2 2 2 2
Urban system 104,963 105,057 72,059 105,731
Total 164,932 166,367 130,940 171,230

 

Table S6 Groundwater taken for consumptive use in the Adelaide region for the previous four years
Groundwater 2022 2021 2020 2019
Barossa Valley PWRA
Individual users 4,886 6,179 5,975 4,440
Western Mount Lofty Ranges PWRA
Individual users 19,997 20,698 20,746 16,823
McClaren Vale PWA
Individual users 4,902 5,054 5,494 8
Northern Adelaide Plains PWA
Individual users 13,754 12,835 13,177 13,097
Others
Irrigation scheme 229 207 279 200
Total 43,768 44,973 45,671 34,568

 

  • Water taken from surface water and groundwater resources for consumptive use was 208,700 ML
  • Total surface water diverted in the region was 164,932 ML, slightly less than last year.
  • 98% of the total surface water diversion was for urban supply (comprising allocated and non-allocated diversions) while 2% was for individual users.
  • The non-allocated water diversion to the urban system comprises water that was imported from the River Murray and stored within the region's storages. Most of these diversions were from the Happy Valley and Hope Valley reservoirs, located outside of the region's prescribed water resource areas.
  • Total groundwater extracted in the region was 43,768 ML, slightly less than last year.
  • More than 99% of the groundwater extraction was for individual users; less than 1% was for the irrigation scheme.

 

Allocations and diversions

 

Table S7 Individual users surface water allocations and diversions in the Adelaide region for the year ending 30 June
Surface water 2022 2021 2020 2019
Barossa Valley PWRA
Allocated announcements 2,664 2,870 2,870 2,870
Allocated diversions 1,919 2,221 1,905 1,567
% used 72% 77% 66% 55%
Western Mount Lofty Ranges PWRA
Allocated announcements 10,444 11,260 11,260 9,660
Allocated diversions 1,046 1,137 1,105 2,161
% used 10% 10% 10% 22%
Little Para
Allocated announcements 638 638 638 638
Allocated diversions 2 2 2 2
% used 0% 0% 0% 0%
Total
Allocated announcements 13,746 14,768 14,768 13,168
Allocated diversions 2,967 3,360 3,012 3,730
% used 22% 23% 20% 28%

 

  • In 2021–22, total surface water allocation was 13,746 ML, all for individual users.
  • Overall, 22% of the allocated surface water was taken.
  • Total allocated diversions to individual users was similar to last year and less compared to the previous three years.
  • The lower surface water supply over the last three years was influenced by SA Water opting to reduce pressure on its surface water resources and increase its reliance on non-allocated diversions to the urban system, as well as desalinated water supply (see Urban system supply below).

 

Table S8 Individual users groundwater allocations and diversions in the Adelaide region for the year ending 30 June
Groundwater 2022 2021 2020 2019
Barossa Valley PWRA
Allocated announcements 7,863 7,863 7,863 7,863
Allocated extractions 4,886 6,176 5,975 4,440
% used 62% 79% 76% 56%
Western Mount Lofty Ranges PWRA
Allocated announcements 55,590 55,590 55,581 55,582
Allocated extraction 19,997 20,698 20,746 16,823
% used 36% 37% 37% 30%
McClaren Vale PWA
Allocated announcements 6,508 6,508 6,508 6,507
Allocated extractions 4,902 5,054 5,494 8
% used 75% 78% 84% 0%
Northern Adelaide Plains PWA
Allocated announcements 39,149 39,149 39,162 27,967
Allocated extractions 13,754 12,835 13,177 13,097
% used 35% 33% 34% 47%
Total
Allocated announcements 109,110 109,110 109,114 97,918
Allocated extractions 43,539 44,766 45,392 34,368
% used 40% 41% 42% 37%

 

  • Total groundwater allocation was 109,110 ML, all individual users.
  • Overall, 40% of the allocated groundwater was taken.
  • Groundwater extraction for individual users remained almost the same as last year. This was likely influenced by the improved rainfall conditions during mid winter-late spring 2021, which meant there was higher surface water availability for consumptive use during the year.

 

Urban system supply

 

Table S9 Water sources used in Adelaide's urban supply system during the 2021–22 year compared with the previous ten years
  2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012
Surface water 74,379 50,323 33,745 31,781 105,970 128,100 21,108 78,200 66,099 57,281 101,099
Desalination water 5,323 5,139 40,001 4,901 4,268 4,112 7,686 22,725 60,950 36,472 3,816
Inter-region inflow 87,586 112,684 94,183 135,719 51,339 15,478 128,010 56,943 26,626 68,420 47,477
Total urban water supplied 167,288 168,146 167,929 172,401 161,577 147,690 156,804 157,868 153,675 162,173 152,392

 

  • Total inflows to the urban supply system was 167,288 ML, slightly less than last year.
  • Around 44% of the total urban supply was from surface water storages. The non-allocated diversions to the urban system comprise water that was imported from the River Murray and stored within the region's storages.
  • Inter-region water from the River Murray made up 52% of the total urban supply, much lower than last year, while desalinated water made up only 4% of urban supply, similar to the previous year. More surface water availability during the year decreased the reliance on desalinated water to meet urban demand.
  • For more information on the use of desalinated water for the Adelaide region, please visit SA Water's Seawater website.