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Ord: Supporting information

For the water account period 01 July 2022 - 30 June 2023

  • Total annual rainfall was above average, following the region's sixth-wettest year on record, contributing to above-average runoff and surface water inflows across the region.
  • End-of-year storage volume increased by thirty percentage points, finishing at 100% full by 30 June 2023 - the highest end-of-year storage volume since 2016-17.
  • Approximately, 33% of surface water allocations and 62% of groundwater allocations were taken in 2022-23.

Schematic representation of the Ord region. In 2021–22, runoff was 51% less than average. Storage volumes at 30 June 2022 were 71% full, less than the previous year. 31% of the total surface water allocation (811 GL) was taken. 64% of the total groundwater allocation (10 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

Kununurra Diversion Dam, Ord region (Water Corporation © Darryl Perroni)

 

  • Total water asset volume in the Ord region on 30 June 2023 was 10,897 GL, all of which was held in surface water.
  • More than 99% of the water assets are held in surface water storages. The remaining volume of water assets are held in rivers.

 

Table S1 Accessible storage volume in the Ord region over the past six water accounting periods ending 30 June
Surface water 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Argyle 10,541,889 7,278,852 7,810,374 3,964,721 5,748,465 8,515,163
Kununurra - - - - - -
Moochalabra 1,680 1,697 1,602 1,563 1,506 1,648
Accessible total 10,543,569 7,280,549 7,811,976 3,966,284 5,749,971 8,516,811
Dead storage 329,885 330,061 331,436 332,413 332,536 330,761
Total storage 10,873,454 7,610,610 8,143,412 4,298,697 6,082,507 8,847,572
Total capacity 10,862,820 10,862,820 10,862,820 10,862,820 10,862,820 10,862,820
% full 100.1% 70.1% 75% 39.6% 56% 81.4%

 

  • Storage volume increased significantly from 70.1% on 30 June 2022 to 100.1% on 30 June 2023 - an increase of 30.0%. This is the highest end-of-year storage volume for the region since 2016-17.
  • Water in Lake Argyle makes up more than 97% of the region’s total surface water storage.

 


Figure S1 Percentage-full volume on 30 June 2023 for each storage and total storage volume from 2009 to 2023 (inset)

  • Storages steadily declined over the first few months of the 2022-23 year, with little rainfall occurring until November, resulting in storages dropping to 58% full by late-November 2022.
  • Following above-average rainfall from November 2022 to February 2023, storages peaked at 120% full in early March 2023. A lack of any significant rain during the last two months of the 2022-23 wet season resulted in a steady decline of storages through to the end of the 2022-23 year.
  • By 30 June 2023, end-of-year storages were at 100.1% full - the highest end-of-year storage volume since 2016-17.
  • More detailed information on the individual storages within the region is available on the Bureau of Meteorology's Water Storage website.

 

Water liabilities

Lake Argyle, Ord region (istock © anonymous)

 

  • Water liabilities in the Ord region refer to the volume of allocation remaining on licence entitlements at the end of the 2022-23 year.

 

Table S2 Opening and closing balance of surface water allocations for individual users in the Ord region over the past six water accounting periods
Description 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Opening balance at 01 July 315,877 315,877 301,492 243,872 311,640 341,315
add Allocation 492,415 495,297 448,186 450,652 407,600 421,959
less Allocated diversion 264,428 248,889 271,449 308,738 306,889 226,492
less Adjustment and forfeiture 228,264 246,408 162,352 84,294 168,479 225,142
Closing balance at 30 June 315,600 315,877 315,877 301,492 243,872 311,640

 

Table S3 Opening and closing balance of groundwater allocations for individual users in the Ord region over the past six water accounting periods
Description 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Opening balance at 01 July 3,407 3,407 3,407 3,407 3,407 3,408
add Allocation 5,566 6,171 8,792 8,382 8,248 8,207
less Allocated extraction 5,566 6,171 7,185 6,628 6,202 6,637
less Adjustment and forfeiture 7 0 1,607 1,754 2,046 1,571
Closing balance at 30 June 3,400 3,407 3,407 3,407 3,407 3,407

 

  • Most of the water supply licences for the region do not have a water management year that ends on 30 June. Therefore, the allocation remaining is the unused component of the annual allocation for these entitlements.
  • A more detailed description of water allocations in the Ord region is given in the Water use section below.

 

Water flows

Champagne Springs, Ord region (istock © samvaltenbergs)

 

  • Total water inflows into the Ord region was 10,440 GL, nearly three times as much as the previous year.
  • Surface water inflows contributed 9,835 GL (94%) of total water inflows, with runoff accounting for 82% of the total water inflows for the region.
  • Runoff into the region's surface water storages was 63% above average (based on modelled data from 1971 to 2021), and the highest since 2016-17, reflecting the region's eighth-wettest wet season increasing water inflows across the region.
  • Groundwater inflows contributed 604 GL (6%) of the total water inflows, with recharge from surface water accounting for 100% of the total groundwater inflows.
  • Total water outflows from the Ord region was 10,904 GL, 88% more than last year.
  • Surface water outflows contributed 10,898 GL (>99%) of total water outflows, with outflow to sea accounting for 71% of the total water outflows for the region.
  • Outflow to sea was 44% above average (based on modelled data from 1971 to 2022), and the highest since 2016-17, reflecting the increase in excess surface water availability across the region.
  • Groundwater outflows contributed 6 GL (<1%) of total water outflows, with allocated extraction to urban users accounting for 49% of the total groundwater outflows.
  • Due to uncertainty in quantifying groundwater flows out of the region, the outflow is taken as the volume of groundwater extracted.
  • A more detailed breakdown of inflows and outflows is given in the Statement of Changes in Water Assets and Water Liabilities for the Ord region.

 

Water availability

 

Table S4 Annual surface water available in the Ord region over the past six water accounting periods ending 30 June
Surface water 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Water availability 17,012,793 10,916,036 10,780,627 8,471,593 9,956,221 14,213,564
Water accessible 808,292 811,174 749,678 694,524 719,240 763,274
Water taken 264,428 248,889 271,449 308,738 306,889 226,492
% water accessible taken 33% 31% 36% 44% 43% 30%

 

  • 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.
  • In 2022-23, surface water availability in the Ord region was above average, following the region's eighth-wettest wet season on record, increasing the volume of water available across the region.
  • Surface water accessible is calculated as the sum of surface water allocations and other statutory right, plus carry over at the start of the 2022-23 year.
  • As physical water availability is much higher than the region's water needs, water allocations vary little between the years.
  • Typically, water use is higher when water availability is low, largely due to increased demand when conditions are dry (see Water use section below).

 

Water use

Irrigation channel, Ord region (Bureau of Meteorology © Dene Moliere)

 

Consumptive use

 

Table S5 Surface water taken for consumptive use in the Ord region over the past six water accounting periods ending 30 June
Surface water 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Agriculture users 31,224 29,057 20,224 23,764 31,335 27,746
Commercial users 416 467 329 394 342 473
Industrial users 13 13 - - - -
Irrigation users 228,213 214,665 247,069 280,105 271,224 193,766
Mining users 3,027 3,036 2,220 2,868 2,386 2,938
Park, gardens and recreation 600 703 634 634 634 631
Stock and domestic 235 248 548 548 543 513
Urban users 700 700 425 425 425 425
Total 264,428 248,889 271,449 308,738 306,889 226,492

 

Table S6 Groundwater taken for consumptive use in the Ord region for the past six water accounting periods ending 30 June
Groundwater 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Agriculture users 260 248 215 215 293 118
Commercial users 226 646 597 588 411 461
Industrial users 4 56 - - - -
Mining users 2,209 2,289 4,386 3,828 3,506 4,067
Other users - - - - - -
Parks, gardens and recreation 55 60 31 41 41 41
Stock and domestic 112 172 178 178 173 172
Urban users 2,700 2,700 1,778 1,778 1,778 1,778
Total 5,566 6,171 7,185 6,628 6,202 6,637

 

  • Water taken from surface water and groundwater resources for consumptive use was 269,994 ML, 6% less than last year.
  • Total surface water diverted in the Ord region was 264,428 ML, 6% more than last year.
  • Around 86% of the surface water taken was for irrigation users. Agriculture users attributed to 12% of surface water taken, while the remaining 2% of surface water taken was split amongst the other categories.
  • Total groundwater extracted in the Ord region was 5,566 ML, 10% less than last year.
  • Around 49% of the groundwater extractions were for urban users, while 40% of groundwater extractions were for mining users and 5% for agriculture users. The remaining amount of groundwater extractions were split amongst the other categories.

 

Allocations and diversions

 

Table S7 Surface water allocations and diversions for individual users in the Ord region over the past six water accounting periods ending 30 June
Surface water 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Individual users
Carryover 315,877 315,877 301,492 243,872 311,640 341,315
Allocated announcements 492,415 495,297 448,186 450,652 407,600 421,959
Allocated diversions 264,428 248,889 271,449 308,738 306,889 226,492
% used 33% 31% 36% 44% 43% 30%

 

  • In 2022-23, total surface water allocation (including carryover) was 808,292 ML, mostly for irrigated agriculture in the Ord River Irrigation Area. This was a slight decrease from the previous year.
  • Surface water diversions in the Ord region was 264,428 ML, 6% more than last year. This equates to 33% of the allocated surface water being taken.
  • Over recent years, water taken for irrigation scheme supply has been higher due to dry conditions and the expansion of the Goomig Farmlands (see Major water reforms).

 

Table S8 Groundwater allocations and diversions for individual users in the Ord region over the past six water accounting periods ending 30 June
Groundwater 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Individual users
Carryover 3,407 3,407 3,407 3,407 3,407 3,408
Allocated announcements 5,566 6,171 8,792 8,382 8,248 8,207
Allocated extractions 5,566 6,171 7,185 6,628 6,202 6,637
% used 62% 64% 59% 56% 53% 57%

 

  • In 2022-23, total groundwater allocation (including carryover) was 8,973 ML. Allocations were 10% less than last year.
  • Over 88% of groundwater extracted was for urban and mining supply.
  • Most of the water supply licenses for the region do not have a water management year that ends on 30 June. Therefore, the volume of carryover at the start each water year is the unused component of the annual allocation for these entitlements.