Daly: Supporting information
For the water account period 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024
- Annual rainfall in the Daly region during 2023–24 was the sixth highest on record, contributing to substantial runoff and surface water inflows into the region's surface water storages.
- Runoff across the region was the fifth highest on record, 89% above the long-term average, and the highest since 2010–11, reflecting the widespread above-average rainfall across the region.
- Approximately 33% of surface water allocations and 17% of groundwater allocations were used in the Daly region during 2023–24, primarily for agricultural purposes.
For further information on the regions water accounting statements scroll down this page or click on the links below:
Water assets
Surface water assets
- The total volume of surface water assets in the Daly region was 19 GL on 30 June 2024, all of which was held in rivers.
- No volume is reported for surface water storages in the Daly region as the volume of water held in these storages cannot be quantified.
Groundwater assets
- The volume of groundwater held in aquifers across the Daly region cannot be quantified; however, historical data on annual changes in aquifer storage is available.
- A detailed breakdown of water assets in the Daly region is available in the Statement of Water Assets and Water Liabilities.
| Groundwater | **2024 | **2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Change in aquifer volume | - | - | (684,230) | 280,500 | (490,890) | (599,000) |
** Change in aquifer storage has not been reported for 2023 and 2024 due to the unavailability of data for the Daly region during these years.
Water liabilities
- Water liabilities in the Daly region refer to the volume of allocation remaining on licence entitlements at the end of the reporting year (30 June).
- Most surface water and groundwater licences in the Daly region operate on a management year that ends on 30 June, but as carryover is not permitted, any unused allocation is forfeited at the end of the water year. Consequently, the closing balance for surface water and groundwater licences is 0 ML.
- A more detailed description of water allocations in the Daly region is provided in the Water use section.
| Description | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
| Opening balance at 01 July | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| add | Allocation | 9,750 | 10,364 | 14,441 | 8,884 | 9,430 | 9,774 |
| less | Allocated diversion | 3,195 | 3,399 | 3,832 | 3,473 | 3,721 | 2,912 |
| less | Adjustment and forfeiture | 6,555 | 6,965 | 10,609 | 5,411 | 5,709 | 6,862 |
| Closing balance at 30 June | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Description | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
| Opening balance at 01 July | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| add | Allocation | 142,607 | 144,548 | 144,473 | 143,993 | 146,663 | 123,082 |
| less | Allocated extraction | 23,953 | 48,613 | 46,314 | 37,289 | 48,609 | 34,665 |
| less | Adjustment and forfeiture | 118,654 | 95,935 | 98,159 | 106,704 | 98,054 | 88,417 |
| Closing balance at 30 June | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
- Surface water allocations in the Daly region during 2023–24 were 9.8 GL, while groundwater allocations were 142.6 GL—both of which were slightly below the volumes allocated in the previous reporting year.
- At the end of the reporting year, approximately 67% (6.6 GL) of surface water allocations and 83% (118.7 GL) of groundwater allocations were forfeited, with no allocations carried over into the 2024–25 water year.
Water flows
- Total water inflows into the Daly region during 2023-24 were 17,743 GL, approximately 44% more than the previous reporting period.
- Surface water inflows contributed 97% (17,250 GL) of total water inflows, with runoff accounting for 91% of the total surface water inflows.
- Runoff into the region's surface water storages was the fifth highest on record, 89% above the long-term average of 8,328 GL (based on modelled data from 1971 to 2023), and the highest since 2010-11, reflecting the above-average rainfall across the region.
- Groundwater inflows contributed 3% (493 GL) of total water inflows, in which recharge from landscape and recharge from surface water making up 98% of the total groundwater inflows.
- Total water outflows from the Daly region during 2023-24 were 18,856 GL, approximately 75% more than the previous reporting period.
- Surface water outflows contributed 96% (18,083 GL) of total water outflows, primarily from outflow to sea which comprised for 92% of the total surface water outflows.
- Outflow to sea was fifth highest on record, roughly double the long-term average of 8,301 GL (based on modelled data from 1971 to 2023), and the highest since 2010-11, reflecting the increased rainfall across the region, maintaining river outflows during the year.
- Groundwater outflows contributed 4% (773 GL) of total water outflows, almost entirely from discharge to surface water, attributing toward 96% of the total groundwater outflows.
- A detailed breakdown of inflows and outflows for the Daly region is available in the Statement of Changes in Water Assets and Water Liabilities.
Water use
Consumptive use
| Surface water | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Agriculture users | 1,002 | 1,307 | 1,150 | 780 | 949 | 881 |
| Cultural users | 281 | 164 | 216 | - | - | - |
| Industrial users | 24 | 40 | 105 | 80 | 75 | 133 |
| Other users | 5,415 | 5,415 | 5,369 | 5,369 | 5,369 | 5,369 |
| Urban users | 2,068 | 2,068 | 2,541 | 2,793 | 2,877 | 2,078 |
| Total | 8,790 | 8,994 | 9,381 | 9,022 | 9,270 | 8,461 |
| Groundwater | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Agricultural users | 22,181 | 46,873 | 44,293 | 36,142 | 47,320 | 33,833 |
| Cultural users | 595 | 402 | 1,160 | 456 | 535 | 126 |
| Industrial users | 469 | 300 | 310 | 293 | 377 | 423 |
| Mining users | 263 | 143 | 86 | - | - | - |
| Other users | 4,280 | 4,280 | 4,280 | 4,280 | 4,280 | 4,280 |
| Urban users | 445 | 895 | 465 | 398 | 377 | 283 |
| Total | 28,233 | 52,893 | 50,594 | 41.569 | 52,889 | 38,945 |
- A total of 37 GL of water was taken from surface water and groundwater resources for consumptive use in the Daly region during 2023–24, representing a decrease of approximately 40% from the previous year. This reduction was primarily due to lower groundwater extractions by the agricultural users.
- Surface water diversions were 8.8 GL across the Daly region in 2023–24, slightly below the 2022–23 volume, and close to the average of 8.7 GL.
- Of the total surface water diverted in the region, 62% was taken by other users, 24% by urban users, and 11% by agricultural users. The remaining volume was taken for cultural purposes (3%) and industrial use (less than 1%).
- Groundwater extractions were 28.2 GL during 2023–24, 47% lower than the previous year, and 21% below the average of 35.5 GL.
- Around 79% of the groundwater extracted in the Daly region was for agricultural users, while urban users accounted for 15% of extractions. The remaining volume was extracted by cultural users (2%), industrial users (2%), urban users (2%), and mining users (less than 1%).
Entitlements and diversions
| Surface water | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Individual users | ||||||
| Carryover | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Entitlements | 9,750 | 10,364 | 14,441 | 8,884 | 9,430 | 9,774 |
| Entitlement diversions | 3,195 | 3,399 | 3,832 | 3,473 | 3,721 | 2,912 |
| % used | 33% | 33% | 27% | 39% | 39% | 30% |
- Total surface water allocations in the Daly region during 2023–24 were 9.8 GL, primarily for agricultural use and urban water supply.
- Approximately 33% of the allocated surface water was diverted during the year, consistent with the previous year, and close to the average of 3.3 GL.
- Surface water allocations were increased in 2018–19 as a precautionary measure to support Katherine’s town water supply, in case the supply of groundwater was impacted by the presence of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
| Groundwater | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Individual users | ||||||
| Carryover | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Entitlements | 142,607 | 144,548 | 144,473 | 143,993 | 146,663 | 123,082 |
| Entitlement extractions | 23,953 | 48,613 | 46,314 | 37,289 | 48,609 | 34,665 |
| % used | 17% | 34% | 32% | 26% | 33% | 28% |
- Total groundwater allocations in the Daly region during 2023–24 were 142.6 GL, primarily for agricultural use. This was consistent with volumes allocated over the past few years, but approximately double the average of 71 GL.
- Around 17% of the allocated groundwater was extracted during the year, about half the volume extracted in 2022–23, but 27% above the average of 18.9 GL.
- Over the past six years, groundwater supply to the town of Katherine has been constrained due to requirements for treatment to remove per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) prior to transfer into the urban system (see Water restrictions section below for more detail).
Water restrictions
- Due to the presence of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the Daly region’s aquifers, the Northern Territory Government has implemented compulsory water conservation measures to reduce reliance on groundwater supplies for Katherine.
- Under these restrictions, odd numbered properties may water on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays between 6 pm and 8 am, while even numbered properties may water on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays during the same time window.
- Watering is not permitted on Fridays, and the use of water to clean hard surfaces such as driveways, footpaths, street gutters, and paved areas is prohibited.
- Further details on current water restrictions in the Daly region are available via the Bureau of Meteorology’s Water Restrictions website.