National Water Account 2015

Murray–Darling Basin: Water resources and systems

Murray River at Renmark, South Australia © Michael Bell, MDBA

Introduction

The following set of notes provides water accounting statements for each of the water stores and systems within the Murray–Darling Basin region during the 2014–15 year. Information on all water flows to and from each water store and system are presented in this note, including between-store flows and transfers that are not presented in the consolidated water accounting statements (which are shown in italics).

For more information about the region, please refer to the General description section of the 'Contextual information'. For more information on between-store flows and transfers that occur in the region, please refer to the Supporting information note.

 

Surface water

Statement of Water Assets and Water Liabilities

The Statement of Water Assets and Water Liabilities presents the volume of water assets and water liabilities at the start and end of the reporting year.

Surface water assets of the region include physical water assets (e.g. storages and rivers) and rights or claims to water. Surface water liabilities include commitments to deliver water to users at the end of the year. The closing net water assets are the volume of surface water assets in the region minus the surface water liabilities at the end of the reporting year (Figure N12).

 

Figure N12 Surface water assets and surface water liabilities for the Murray–Darling Basin region at 30 June 2015
Figure N12 Surface water assets and surface water liabilities for the Murray–Darling Basin region at 30 June 2015

 

Details on the region's surface water assets and surface water liabilities for the 2014–15 year are also provided in Table N20.

 

Table N20 Statement of Water Assets and Water Liabilities as at 30 June 2015 for the surface water store
 2015
(ML)		2014
(ML)
Water assets 13,697,589 16,858,230
Storages 9,681,284 13,156,647
Rivers 897,210 1,126,812
Lakes and wetlands 1,865,132 1,893,866
Claims: inter-region 1,238,860  670,826
Other assets  15,103 10,079
Total surface water assets 13,697,589 16,858,230
   
Water liabilities2,471,236 3,257,667
Allocation remaining: individual users1,805,817 2,567,603
Allocation remaining: urban system 0 0
Allocation remaining: environmental purposes665,419690,064
Total water liabilities2,471,2363,257,667
   
Opening net water assets 13,600,563 14,811,176
Change in net water assets (2,374,210) (1,210,613)
Closing net water assets 11,226,353 13,600,563

 

Statement of Changes in Water Assets and Water Liabilities

The Statement of Changes in Water Assets and Water Liabilities presents the changes in water assets and water liabilities that occurred during the reporting year.

This statement is prepared on an accrual basis. Figure N13 shows the transactions that changed the surface water assets and surface water liabilities of the region, including:

  • accrual (non-physical) transactions, indicated by the glass-of-water symbols
  • actual water flows (both natural and engineered), indicated by the arrows.

 

 

Figure N13 Changes in surface water assets and surface water liabilities for the Murray–Darling Basin region during the 2014–15 year

Figure N13 Changes in surface water assets and surface water liabilities for the Murray–Darling Basin region during the 2014–15 year

 

Details on the changes in surface water assets and surface water liabilities for the 2014–15 year are also provided in Table N21.

 

Table N21 Statement of Changes in Water Assets and Water Liabilities for the 2014–15 year for the surface water store
 2015
(ML)		2014
(ML)
Water asset increases 18,482,507 20,233,205
Precipitation 1,199,9121,172,623
Inter-region inflow 0151,000
Discharge: groundwater 311,800117,572
Runoff 14,403,148 16,374,418
Point return: irrigation 297,113 259,779
Discharge: urban supply system00
Claims: inter-region 1,921,622 2,059,594
Return flow: environmental purposes 314,011 64,200
Discharge: wastewater system 34,901 34,019
Total water asset increases 18,482,507 20,233,205
   
Water liability decreases(450,053)153,619
Adjustment and forfeiture: individual users(612,532)403,191
Adjustment and forfeiture: urban system139,032195,704
Adjustment and forfeiture: environmental purposes23,447(445,276)
Total water liability decreases(450,053)153,619
   
Water asset decreases 13,077,324 13,470,053
Evaporation 4,871,102 2,701,747
Outflow 1,196,000 1,784,000
Recharge groundwater 140,620 273,293
Overflow: landscape 21,490 207,528
Diversion: statutory rights 27,692 68,210
Non-allocated diversion: individual users 778,334 1,283,873
Non-allocated diversion: urban system 6,154 7,168
River and floodplain losses5,815,3827,088,015
Claims: inter-region 100,000 3,000
Non-allocated diversion: environmental purposes120,55053,219
   
Total water asset decreases 13,077,324 13,470,053
   
Water liability increases7,329,3408,127,384
Allocation: individual users5,187,0545,810,236
Allocation: urban system504,852523,094
Allocation: environmental purposes1,637,4341,794,054
Total water liability increases7,329,3408,127,384
   
Balancing item—surface water 0 0
   
Change in net water assets(2,374,210)(1,210,613)

 

Statement of Water Flows

The Statement of Water Flows presents the actual water inflows and outflows associated with the water stores of the region that occurred during the reporting year.

Figure N16 shows the actual surface water flows, including flows corresponding to the accrual transactions shown in Figure N15 above.

 

Figure N14 Surface water flows for the Murray–Darling Basin region during the 2014–15 year
Figure N14 Surface water flows for the Murray–Darling Basin region during the 2014–15 year

 

Details on the surface water flows for the 2014–15 year are also provided in Table N22.

 

Table N22 Statement of Water Flows for the 2014–15 year for the surface water store
 2015
(ML)		2014
(ML)
Water inflows17,814,473 19,865,776
Precipitation1,199,912 1,172,623
Inter-region inflow0 151,000
Discharge: groundwater311,800 117,572
Runoff14,403,148 16,374,418
Point return: irrigation297,113259,779
Discharge: urban supply system 0 0
Delivery: inter-region agreement1,253,588 1,692,165
Return flow: environmental purposes314,01164,200
Discharge: wastewater system34,90134,019
   
Total water inflows17,814,473 19,865,776
   
Water outflows21,543,148 22,529,542
Evaporation4,871,102 2,701,747
Outflow1,196,000 1,784,000
Recharge: groundwater140,620 273,293
Overflow: landscape21,490 207,528
Diversion: statutory rights27,692 68,210
Non-allocated diversion: individual users778,334 1,283,873
Non-allocated diversion: urban system6,1547,168
River and floodplain losses5,815,3827,088,015
Allocated diversion: individual users6,561,372 7,185,833
Allocated diversion: urban system365,820327,390
Allocated diversion: environmental purposes1,638,632 1,549,266
Non-allocated diversion: environmental purposes120,55053,219
   
Total water outflows21,543,14822,529,542
   
Balancing item—surface water00
   
Opening water storage16,187,40418,851,170
Change in water storage(3,728,675)(2,663,766)
Closing water storage12,458,72916,187,404

 

 

Groundwater

Statement of Water Assets and Water Liabilities

The Statement of Water Assets and Water Liabilities presents the volume of water assets and water liabilities at the start and end of the reporting year.

Groundwater assets of the region include physical water assets (e.g. water table aquifer and underlying aquifers) and rights or claims to water. Groundwater liabilities include commitments to deliver water to users at the end of the year. The closing net water assets are the volume of groundwater assets in the region minus the groundwater liabilities at the end of the reporting year (Figure N15).

 

Figure N15 Groundwater assets and groundwater liabilities for the Murray–Darling Basin region at 30 June 2015
Figure N15 Groundwater assets and groundwater liabilities for the Murray–Darling Basin region at 30 June 2015

 

Details on the region's groundwater assets and groundwater liabilities for the 2014–15 year are also provided in Table N23.

 

Table N23 Statement of Water Assets and Water Liabilities as at 30 June 2015 for the groundwater store
 2015
(ML)		2014
(ML)
Water assets  
Aquifers3,333,7403,262,640
Total water assets3,333,7403,262,640
   
Water liabilities  
Allocation remaining: individual users4982,341
Allocation remaining: urban system 0 0
Allocation remaining: environmental purposes1,31099
   
Total water liabilities1,8082,440
   
Opening net water assets3,260,2004,190,762
Change in net water assets 71,732(930,562)
Closing net water assets3,331,9323,260,200

 

Statement of Changes in Water Assets and Water Liabilities

The Statement of Changes in Water Assets and Water Liabilities presents the changes in water assets and water liabilities that occurred during the reporting year.

This statement is prepared on an accrual basis. Figure N16 shows the transactions that changed the groundwater assets and groundwater liabilities of the region, including:

  • accrual (non-physical) transactions, indicated by the glass-of-water symbols
  • actual water flows (both natural and engineered), indicated by the arrows.

Figure N16 Changes in groundwater assets and groundwater liabilities for the Murray–Darling Basin region during the 2014–15 year
Figure N16 Changes in groundwater assets and groundwater liabilities for the Murray–Darling Basin region during the 2014–15 year

 

Details on the changes in groundwater assets and groundwater liabilities for the 2014–15 year are also provided in Table N24.

 

Table N24 Statement of Changes in Water Assets and Water Liabilities for the 2014–15 year for the groundwater store
 2015
(ML)		2014
(ML)
Water asset increases 2,404,5485,016,539
Inter-region inflow 2,657 2,733
Inter-region coastal inflow 9082
Recharge: landscape 2,189,814 3,552,532
Recharge: surface water 140,620 273,293
Managed aquifer recharge: individual users 267 1,211
Other increases 71,100 1,186,688
   
   
Total water asset increases 2,404,5485,016,539
   
Water liability decreases  
Adjustment and forfeiture: individual users853,0941,047,591
Adjustment and forfeiture: urban system34,30235,725
Adjustment and forfeiture: environmental purposes26,24829,973
Total water liability decreases913,6441,113,289
   
Water asset decreases 2,644,753 4,041,609
Inter-region outflow 24 31
Inter-region coastal outflow 1,532 1,516
Discharge: landscape 2,106,680 1,583,868
Discharge: surface water 311,800 117,572
Extraction: statutory rights 221,332 221,408
Non-allocated extraction: individual users3,3850
Other decreases 0 2,117,214
Total water asset decreases 2,644,753 4,041,609
  
Water liability increases 2,239,389 2,267,954
Allocation: individual users2,125,290 2,161,986
Allocation: urban system71,085 70,222
Allocation: environmental purposes43,01435,746
Total water liability increases 2,239,389 2,267,954
   
Balancing item—groundwater (1,637,682) 750,827
   
Change in net water assets 71,732(930,562)

 

Statement of Water Flows

The Statement of Water Flows presents the actual water inflows and outflows associated with the water stores of the region that occurred during the reporting year.

Figure N17 shows the actual groundwater flows, including flows corresponding to the accrual transactions shown in Figure N16 above.

 

Figure N17 Groundwater flows for the Murray–Darling Basin region during the 2014–15 year
Figure N17 Groundwater flows for the Murray–Darling Basin region during the 2014–15 year

 

Details on the groundwater flows for the 2014–15 year are also provided in Table N25.

 

Table N25 Statement of Water Flows for the 2014–15 year for the groundwater store
 2015
(ML)		2014
(ML)
Water inflows 2,404,548 5,016,539
Inter-region inflow 2,657 2,733
Inter-region coastal inflow90 82
Recharge: landscape2,189,814 3,552,532
Recharge: surface water140,620 273,293
Managed aquifer recharge: individual user267 1,211
Other increases71,100 1,186,688
   
   
Total water inflows 2,404,548 5,016,539
   
Water outflows 3,973,274 5,196,238
Inter-region outflow 24 31
Inter-region coastal outflow 1,532 1,516
Discharge: landscape 2,106,6801,583,868
Discharge: surface water 311,800 117,572
Extraction: statutory rights 221,332 221,408
Non-allocated extraction: individual users3,3850
Allocated extraction: individual users 1,274,039 1,114,458
Allocated extraction: urban system36,78334,497
Allocated extraction: environmental purposes  15,555 5,674
Other decreases0 2,117,214
Total water outflows 3,971,130 5,196,238
   
Balancing item—groundwater(1,637,682)750,827
   
Opening water storage 3,262,640 4,193,166
Change in water storage 71,100 (930,526)
Closing water storage 3,333,740 3,262,640