National Water Account 2024

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Key findings

Climate and water

Water Accounting Statements

Supporting information

Region description

Ord: Supporting information

For the water account period 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024

Water assets

• The total volume of water assets in the Ord region was 12,434 GL, the highest since 2010–11.
• More than 99% of the water assets are held in surface water storages, while the remaining volve of water assets are contained in rivers.
• A detailed breakdown of water assets in the Ord region is available in the Statement of Water Assets and Water Liabilities.

• Total storage volume in the Ord region increased by 13.9% during 2023–24, finishing at 114.0% on 30 June 2024—the highest end-of-year storage volume since 2010–11.
• Lake Argyle, which holds more than 99% of the region's total surface water storage, is Western Australia's largest and Australia's second largest freshwater man-made reservoir by volume.

Figure S1 Percentage-full volume on 30 June 2024 for each storage and total storage volume from 2009 to 2024 (inset)

• The total storage volume in the Ord region began the 2023–24 year at 100.1% full—the highest opening storage volume since 2017–18.
• Following the region's second-driest August-to-October period on record, storages dropped to around 85% full during December.
• On the back of the region's second-wettest January-to-March period on record, storages rose sharply across the region, peaking at 156% full in early March—the highest volume in since May 2011.
• Lake Argyle is capable of temporarily holding more than three times its total storage capacity to mitigate flooding of the Lower Ord River catchment area through controlled releases of excess water.
• At the conclusion of the 2023–24 wet season, Lake Argyle was still sitting at 130% full, and continued to gradually decline through to the end of the June, due to periodic releases of flood storage into the Lower Ord River.
• By 30 June 2024, the total storage volume in the Ord region was 114.0% full—up 13.9% from the same time last year, and the highest end-of-year storage volume since 2010–11.
• More detailed information on individual storages in the Ord region is available on the Bureau of Meteorology's Water Information Dashboard.

Water liabilities

• Water liabilities in the Ord region refer to the volume of allocation remaining on licence entitlement at the end of the reporting period (30 June).
• As most of the water supply licences in the Ord region do not have a water management year that ends on 30 June, the allocation remaining (carryover) is the unused component of the annual allocation for these entitlements.
• A more detailed description of water allocations in the Ord region is provided in the Water use section.

• Surface water allocations in the Ord region were 858 GL for 2023–24, while groundwater allocations were 9.6 GL, both similar to last year.
• At the end of the 2023–24 reporting year, approximately 36% of surface water allocations were forfeited, while it was determined that 315.6 GL of surface water allocations and 3.4 GL of groundwater allocations would be carried over into the 2024–25 water year.

Water flows

• Total water inflows into the Ord region during 2023–24 were 18,454 GL, approximately 77% more than the previous year, and the highest since 2016–17.
• Surface water inflows contributed 96% (17,684 GL) of total water inflows, with runoff accounting for 88% of the total water inflows for the region.
• Runoff into the region's surface water storages was more than double the long-term average of 5,359 GL (based on modelled data from 1971 to 2023), reflecting the region's fourth-wettest year on record.
• Groundwater inflows contributed 4% (770 GL) of the total water inflows, all of which was recharge from surface water.
• Total water outflows from the Ord region during 2023–24 were 16,210 GL, approximately 49% more than the previous year, and the highest since 2016-17.
• Surface water outflows contributed more than 99% (16,204 GL) of total water outflows, mostly from outflow to sea, accounting for 76% of the total water outflows for the region.
• Outflow to sea from the region's rivers was 127% above the long-term average of 5,428 GL (based on modelled data from 1971 to 2023), reflecting the high flow of water throughout the region.
• Groundwater outflows contributed less than 1% (6 GL) of total water outflows, entirely for allocated extractions to various users and purposes.
• Due to uncertainty in quantifying groundwater flows out of the region, the outflow is taken as the volume of groundwater extracted.
• A detailed breakdown of inflows and outflows for the Ord region is available in the Statement of Changes in Water Assets and Water Liabilities.

Water availability

• Surface water availability in the Ord region during 2023–24 was 116% above the long-term average of 12,929 GL, and 65% higher than the previous year, reflecting the abundance of water across the region.
• Changes in water availability across the Ord region are heavily influenced by runoff. Generally, when runoff increases or decreases, water availability responds in a similar way.
• Despite the excessive volume of water available, surface water accessible for take in the Ord region was similar to last year, but 17% above the average of 732 GL.
• Water taken from surface water resources in the Ord region were 11% less than the previous year, but slightly above the average of 226 GL.
• The decrease in water taken from surface water resources during 2023–24 may reflect the abundance of water across the region reducing the stress for the demand of water.
• Overall, approximately 27% of the surface water accessible for take in the Ord region was taken, primarily for allocated diversions to irrigation users.

Water use

Consumptive use

• A total of 242 GL of water was taken from surface water and groundwater resources for consumptive use in the Ord region during 2023–24, approximately 11% less than the previous year, primarily due to decreased surface water allocated diversions to irrigation users.
• Surface water diversions across the Ord region were 236 GL, around 11% lower than the previous year, but slightly above the average of 226 GL.
• Approximately 77% of surface water diversions in the Ord region were to irrigation users, while agricultural users accounted for 22% of the surface water diversions. The remaining volume of surface water diversions were split across the other categories.
• Groundwater extractions across the Ord region were 6.2 GL, around 12% higher than the previous year, but 25% below the average of 8.3 GL.
• Allocated extractions to urban users accounted for 43% of the total groundwater extractions, while 39% of groundwater extractions were for mining users. The remaining volume of groundwater extractions were distributed amongst the other categories.
• Metered water use in the region is only available for the irrigation scheme.

Allocations and diversions

• Total surface water allocations in the Ord region during 2023–24 were 858 GL, similar to last year, but 17% above the average of 732 GL.
• Approximately 27% of the surface water allocated in the Ord region was used, mostly by the irrigation supply scheme.
• In recent years, water taken for irrigation scheme supply has been impacted by the expansion of the Goomig Farmlands (see Major water reforms), the development and viability of commercial enterprises and the timing and amount of rainfall.

• Total groundwater allocations in the Ord region during 2023–24 were 9.6 GL, approximately 7% more than last year, but 34% below the average of 14.6 GL.
• Approximately 72% of the groundwater allocated in the Ord region was extracted, primarily for urban and mining supply.
• Metered water use is not available so changes in extraction are associated with changes in water licenses issued.
• As most of the water supply licences in the Ord region do not have a water management year that ends on 30 June, the volume of carryover at the start of each water year is the unused component of the annual allocation for these entitlements.