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Murray–Darling Basin: Supporting information

For the water account period 01 July 2023 – 30 June 2024

  • Total rainfall was close to average following three years of above average rainfall.
  • Annual runoff was around 20% below average.
  • End of year storage decreased for the first time in four years to 79% full at 30 June 2024.
  • Approximately 57% of the surface water accessible for consumptive use was taken, mainly for irrigation and agricultural purposes.

Schematic representation of the Murray–Darling Basin region. In 2022–23, runoff was 88% more than average. Storage volumes at 30 June 2023 were 95% full, higher than the previous year. 34% of the total surface water taken for consumptive use (16,455 GL) was taken. 26% of the total groundwater taken for consumptive use (3,153 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

Lake Eildon, Murray-Darling Basin region (Bureau of Meteorology; Paul Feikema)

 

  • Water asset volumes in the region were 23,901 GL at 30 June 2024, with surface water assets accounting for 85% of this volume.
  • The remaining 15% of the region's total water assets are held in aquifers.

 

Storages

 

Table S1 Accessible storage volume in the Murray-Darling Basin region over the past six water accounting periods ending 30 June
Surface water 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019
Northern Basin 3,116,869 4,298,238 4,459,086 2,532,584 821,148 405,581
Southern Basin 12,663,365 14,637,004 13,628,557 10,226,386 6,804,651 6,183,152
Accessible total 15,780,234 18,935,242 18,087,643 12,758,970 7,625,799 6,558,733
Dead storage 302,271 302,271 302,271 302,271 302,271 302,271
Total storage 16,082,505 19,237,513 18,389,914 13,061,241 7,928,070 6,891,004
Total capacity 20,277,416 20,339,796 20,339,796 20,339,796 20,339,796 20,339,796
% full 79.3% 94.6% 90.4% 64.2% 39.0% 33.9%

 

  • Storage volumes decreased to 79.3% full at 30 June 2024, from 94.6% full at the same time last year.
  • This was the first decrease in end of year storage volume in four years.
  • Storages in the southern Basin account for over three quarters of the total Basin capacity (15,569 GL compared with 4,708 GL in the northern Basin).

Map of Murray-Darling Basin region showing the status of each storage at 30 June 2024. The storages are colour coded into nine categories of volume as a proportion of capacity. Most of the storages in the Basin were over 60% capacity. An inset line graph shows the time series of percentage-full storage volume between 1 July 2010 and 30 June 2024. Murray-Darling Basin storages at 30 June 2024 were 79.3% full, the highest end of year volume in this period.
Figure S1 Percentage full volume on 30 June 2024 for each storage and total storage volume from 2010–2024 (inset)

  • At the beginning of the 2023–24 year, storages were 91% full in the northern Basin and 94% full in the southern Basin, following three years of high inflows.
  • Despite drier conditions in late winter and early spring, storage volumes remained high in the southern Basin. The three largest storages, Dartmouth Dam, Eildon Dam and Hume Dam were at 98%, 96% and 94% of total capacity on 30 September. 
  • Heavy rainfall in south-east Australia in early October increased inflows into many southern dams and caused the volume in Eildon Dam to increase rapidly by 5% over three days, resulting in spillway releases to manage water levels.
  • Over the drier February to April period, the combined southern Basin storage volume decreased by around 6% to just under 80% full (the lowest level since July 2021), before increasing to 81% at the end of June. 
  • Storage volume in the northern Basin decreased by 13% over the spring and, despite above average rainfall, continued to decline a further 13% to 65% of total capacity over the summer months when consumptive demand is typically high.
  • The combined northern Basin storage volume gradually increased over the April to June period to 66% of total capacity by the end of June 2024.
  • More detailed information on the individual storages within the region are available on our Water Storage website.

 Groundwater assets

Map of groundwater sustainable diversion limits in the Murray-Darling Basin region. The Goulburn-Murray sustainable diversion limit area has a groundwater asset volume of more than 400,000 ML. South Australian Murray Region, Wimmera-Mallee, Murrumbidgee Alluvium, Lachlan Alluvium, Western Porous Rock, Namoi Alluvium, and Condamine-Balonne areas have groundwater asset volumes of more than 200,000 ML. Murray Alluvium, Eastern Porous Rock, and Warrego; Paroo; Nebine areas have groundwater asset volumes of more than 100,000 ML. Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges, New South Wales Great Artesian Basin Shallow, Macquarie-Castlereagh Alluvium, New England Fractured Rock and Northern Basalts, Queensland Border Rivers; Moonie, and New South Wales Border Rivers Alluvium have groundwater asset volumes of more than 50,000 ML. Darling Alluvium, Lachlan and South Western Fractured Rock, Australian Capital Territory, and Gwydir Alluvium areas have groundwater asset volumes less than 50,000 ML.
Figure S2 Groundwater sustainable diversion limits in the Murray–Darling Basin region

  • The groundwater asset volume for the region represents sustainable diversion limit volumes as set out in the Murray–Darling Basin Plan.
  • The groundwater asset volume at the end of the year was the same as the previous year, reflecting no change to the region's sustainable diversion limits.

 

Water liabilities

Agricultural land use, Murray-Darling Basin region (Alison Pouliot; 2010)

 

  • Water liabilities in the Murray–Darling Basin region refer to the volume of allocation remaining on licence entitlements at the end of 2023–24.

 

Table S2 Opening and closing balance of surface water allocations in the Murray-Darling Basin region during the 2023–24 reporting year
Description Individual users (ML) Urban system (ML) Environmental purposes (ML)
Opening balance at 01 July 2023 5,593,148 0 1,592,627
add Surface water allocation 6,767,821 677,488 2,755,772
add Net trade 47,709 3,085 752,048
less Allocated diversion 6,239,465 459,293 2,927,261
less Adjustment for surface water allocation 1,353,067 221,280 848,996
Closing balance at 30 June 2024 4,816,146 0 1,324,190

 


Table S3 Opening and closing balance of groundwater allocations in the Murray-Darling Basin region during the 2023–24 reporting year
Description Individual users (ML) Urban system (ML) Salinity and water table management (ML) Environmental purposes (ML)
Opening balance at 01 July 2023 844,743 0 0 0
add Allocation 2,083,291 82,530 39,031 48,680
add Net trade (438) 0 0 0
less Allocated extraction 940,812 32,312 11,417 40,224
less Adjustment for groundwater allocation 1,142,041 50,218 27,614 8,456
Closing balance at 30 June 2024 844,743 0 0 0

 

  • Water supply licences for individual users and environmental purposes include carryover provisions, which means a portion of water allocation that has not been abstracted at the end of the water year can be carried over into the next water year.
  • For urban system supply and salinity and water table management licences, there are no carryover provisions. The portion of water allocation that has not been abstracted at the end of a water year is forfeited, meaning the allocation remaining at the end of the year is 0 ML.
  • The total carryover volume at the start of 2023–24 was the highest since 2012–13, following three years of increasing water availability.
  • Surface water allocations remained high but were lower than the previous two years.
  • Total surface water allocation for individual, urban, and environmental purposes in 2023–24 was 10,201 GL, with individual users, mostly irrigated agriculture, making up 66% of this volume.
  • Total surface water and groundwater liabilities closed lower in 2023–24 than in 2022–23.

 

Water flows

McIntyre River near Goondiwindi, Murray-Darling Basin region (MDBA; Arthur Mostead)

  • Water inflows into the Murray-Darling Basin region were approximately 36,723 GL, 55% less than last year and 20% less that the 2011–2023 average.
  • Surface water inflows contributed 21,974 GL (60%) of total water inflows, with runoff accounting for 84% of the total surface water inflows.
  • Runoff was 20% below average (based on modelled data from 1975 to 2023) after three years of above average runoff.
  • Total water outflows from the Murray-Darling Basin region were 38,339 GL, 46% less than last year but close to the 2011–2023 average.
  • While outflows due to consumptive use increased, outflows associated with the high rainfall events (recharge to groundwater, overbank flows and outflow to sea) were lower than in the previous two years.
  • Surface water outflows accounted for 97% of total outflows.
  • Groundwater outflows were higher than in the previous two years due to an increase in consumptive use.
  • A more detailed breakdown of inflows and outflows is given in the Statement of Changes in Water Assets and Water Liabilities.

 

Water availability

 

Table S4 Annual surface water available in the Murray-Darling Basin region over the past six water accounting periods ending 30 June
  2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019
Water availability* 39,048,178 61,421,731 51,460,784 32,166,573 22,282,613 20,528,796
Water accessible** 14,776,929 16,133,698 16,526,385 12,499,065 6,945,841 7,037,105
Water taken*** 8,386,436 6,350,243 8,573,349 8,148,554 5,315,319 5,841,944
% water accessible taken 57% 39% 52% 65% 77% 83%

* Surface water availability is sum of accessible storage at the start of the year (see Water assets) and estimated inflows into storages and rivers during the year.

** Accessible water is the volume of water that is accessible for consumptive use and is the sum of surface water allocations, other statutory rights and carryover at the start of the water year.

*** Water taken is the volume of water for taken for consumptive use and includes floodplain harvesting. This does not include water for environmental purposes.

  • Volumes of water accessible for use and water taken are both influenced by water availability.
  • Water availability in 2023–24 was close to average (based on all available data from 2011 to 2023). While storage volumes at the beginning of the year were the highest since 2010–11, runoff was below average and much less than the previous two years.
  • Water accessible for take was slightly less than last year but 20% above average (based on all available data from 2011 to 2023), with increased water availability allowing for high carryover and announced allocations at the beginning of the water year. 
  • Water taken from surface water resources was the highest since 2017–2018, which may reflect high accessible water but a return to drier conditions in some areas.
  • Surface water taken for consumptive use in 2023–24 was 57% of the water accessible, close to 10% less than the 2011–2023 average.

 

Water use

Wheat harvesting, Murray-Darling Basin region (MDBA; Arthur Mostead)

 

  • Total consumptive use for individual users, urban systems, and basic rights was 9,328 GL in 2023–24, 87% sourced from surface water resources and the remaining 13% from groundwater resources.

 

Table S5 Surface water taken in the Murray-Darling Basin region over the past five water accounting periods ending 30 June
Surface water 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020
Queensland
Individual users 701,645 340,753 1,000,612 528,620 588,255
Urban system 7,768 7,480 6,597 7,564 7,984
Environmental purposes 99,333 142,870 366,365 73,911 192,719
Basic rights 10,589 10,589 10,589 10,589 10,589
Total 819,355 501,692 1,384,163 620,684 799,547
New South Wales
Individual users 4,549,341 3,084,394 3,921,287 3,592,604 1,634,963
Urban system 91,966 82,692 77,870 79,016 89,310
Environmental purposes 1,140,094 920,037 1,124,134 916,094 158,554
Basic rights 50,263 50,263 49,279 49,279 49,252
Total 5,831,664 4,137,386 5,172,570 4,636,993 1,932,079
Victoria
Individual users 1,813,002 1,575,975 1,933,464 1,807,802 1,695,319
Urban system 155,002 117,922 134,259 149,429 136,982
Environmental purposes 858,135 622,036 884,678 608,528 840,035
Basic rights 27,465 27,465 27,465 27,465 27,465
Total 2,853,604 2,343,398 2,979,866 2,593,224 2,699,801
South Australia
Individual users 484,690 371,523 458,754 461,274 420,762
Urban system 157,107 105,658 148,935 172,485 156,076
Environmental purposes 1,018,666 748,110 873,351 809,102 976,525
Basic rights 6,062 6,062 6,062 6,062 6,062
Total 1,666,525 1,231,353 1,487,102 1,448,923 1,559,425
Australian Capital Territory
Individual users 1,819 1,350 740 1,301 945
Urban system 51,346 47,703 45,336 49,268 55,330
Environmental purposes - - - - -
Basic rights - - - - -
Total 53,165 49,053 46,076 50,569 56,275
Basin Total
Individual users 7,550,497 5,373,995 7,314,857 6,391,601 4,340,244
Urban system 463,189 361,455 412,997 457,762 445,682
Environmental purposes 3,166,228 2,433,053 3,248,528 2,407,635 2,167,833
Basic rights 94,379 94,379 93,395 93,395 93,368
Total 11,224,293 8,262,882 11,069,777 9,350,393 7,047,127

 

  • In 2023–24, water taken from surface water resources was 11,224 GL, 23% more than average (based on data from 2011 to 2023), and 36% more than last year.
  • Approximately 67% of the total surface water diverted was for consumptive use by individual users, 4% was supplied to the urban system and 1% was for individual users under a basic right.
  • The remaining 28% of this volume was used for environmental purposes.
  • Across the region, the volume taken by individual users increased in 2023–24, with high carryover and allocations along with drier conditions in some areas contributing to the higher use. In total, 7,550 GL was used compared with 5,374 GL in 2022–23.
  • With the exception of Queensland, environmental flows were also higher across the region.

 

Table S6 Groundwater taken in the Murray–Darling Basin region over the past five water accounting periods ending 30 June
Surface water 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020
Queensland
Individual users 147,983 136,633 93,661 123,513 133,005
Urban system 4,783 4,269 4,082 4,214 4,544
Salinity and water table management - - - - -
Basic rights 24,446 24,450 24,450 24,450 24,446
Total 177,212 165,352 122,193 152,177 161,955
New South Wales
Individual users 649,685 319,096 334,460 559,376 978,841
Urban system 32,531 28,043 27,965 31,830 41,777
Salinity and water table management 1,140 1,251 4,121 5,133 1,339
Basic rights 191,772 191,745 191,745 191,755 188,448
Total 875,128 540,135 558,291 788,094 1,210,405
Victoria
Individual users 95,157 65,493 121,100 196,345 242,370
Urban system - - - - -
Salinity and water table management - - - - -
Basic rights 20,231 20,280 20,280 20,280 20,290
Total 115,388 85,773 141,380 216,625 262,660
South Australia
Individual users 49,146 38,977 47,443 48,379 48,539
Urban system - - - - -
Salinity and water table management 10,277 10,648 13,223 12,375 12,709
Basic rights 3,924 3,924 3,924 3,924 3,924
Total 63,347 53,549 64,590 64,678 65,172
Australian Capital Territory
Individual users 641 457 316 630 339
Urban system - - - - -
Salinity and water table management - - - - -
Basic rights - - - - -
Total 641 457 316 630 339
Basin Total
Individual users 942,612 560,656 596,980 928,243 1,403,094
Urban system 37,314 32,312 32,047 36,044 46,321
Salinity and water table management 11,417 11,899 17,344 17,508 14,048
Basic rights 240,373 240,399 240,399 240,409 237,108
Total 1,231,716 845,266 886,770 1,222,204 1,700,571

 

  • Water taken from groundwater resources was 1,232 GL, 46% more than last year but close to the 2011–2023 average.
  • Approximately, 77% of groundwater extractions were for individual users and 20% were for individual users under a basic right.
  • Around 3% of the extraction was for the urban system, while less than 1% was extracted for salinity and water table management.
  • Groundwater taken for individual users increased across all areas, with a Basin total of 1,232 GL used in 2023–24 compared with 845 GL in 2022–23.
  • A return to average rainfall conditions may have increased dependency on groundwater after the previous two years of higher rainfall and surface water availability.