National Water Account 2025

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Key findings

Climate and water

Water Accounting Statements

Supporting information

Region description

Daly: Supporting information

For the water account period 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025

Water assets

• Total water assets in the Daly region on 30 June 2025 were 28 GL, 50% higher than the previous reporting period, and the highest since the 2013–14 reporting period.
• Rivers account for the entire volume of water assets in the region, as surface water storage volumes are not reported due to data availability.
• Surface water storages do exist in the Daly region, such as Copperfield Dam, but represent a negligible component of the region’s overall water resources.
• A detailed breakdown of water assets in the Daly region is available in the Statement of Water Assets and Water Liabilities.

Surface water assets

• Surface water assets in the Daly region are entirely represented by river volumes, as surface water storage volumes are not reported due to data limitations.
• Although surface water storages exist in the region, such as Copperfield Dam, they represent a negligible component of the region’s overall water resources and are not included in reported asset volumes.

Groundwater assets

• The volume of groundwater held in aquifers across the Daly region cannot be quantified due to the complex interaction between surface water and groundwater systems.
• Historical estimates of annual changes in aquifer storage were previously reported; however, this information has not been available since 2023 due to data limitations in the Daly region.

Water liabilities

• Water liabilities in the Daly region refer to the volume of allocation remaining on licence entitlements at the end of the reporting period (30 June).
• Most surface water and groundwater licences in the Daly region operate on a management year that ends on 30 June. 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.

• Surface water allocations in the Daly region during 2024–25 were 13 GL, with no water carried over from the previous year due to the absence of carryover provisions.
• Approximately 30% (4 GL) of the total surface water allocations were diverted during the reporting year, primarily to urban users.
• The remaining volume of allocated water (9 GL) was forfeited at the end of the reporting year in accordance with licence conditions.

• Groundwater allocations in the Daly region during 2024–25 were 118 GL, with no water carried over from the previous year due to the absence of carryover provisions.
• Approximately 25% (29 GL) of the total groundwater allocations were extracted during the reporting year, primarily for agricultural users.
• The remaining volume of allocated groundwater (89 GL) was forfeited at the end of the reporting year in accordance with licence conditions.

Water flows

• Water flows in the Daly region describe the movement of water between surface water and groundwater stores.
• A summary of total inflows and outflows for each water store is provided below.
• For a detailed breakdown of inflows and outflows in the Daly region, refer to the Statement of Changes in Water Assets and Water Liabilities.

• Total water inflows to the Daly region during 2024–25 were 6,621 GL, approximately 60% less than the previous reporting period, and 30% below the long-term average of 9,740 GL.
• Surface water inflows contributed around 90% (6,121 GL) of total inflows, with runoff accounting for 85% of surface water inflows.
• Runoff into the region's surface water systems was 65% lower than the previous reporting period, and 40% below the long-term average of 8,465 GL (based on area-averaged modelled data since July 1971), reflecting the absence of major rainfall events during the wet season.
• Groundwater inflows made up the remaining volume (500 GL) of total inflows, mostly from recharge from landscape and recharge from surface water.

• Total water outflows from the Daly region during 2024–25 were 6,941 GL, approximately 65% lower than the previous reporting period, corresponding to the significant decrease in total water inflows across the region.
• Surface water outflows accounted for around 90% (6,274 GL) of total outflows, primarily from outflows to sea, which contributed 90% of surface water outflows.
• Outflows to sea from the region's rivers were 65% lower than the previous reporting period, and 30% below the long-term average of 8,455 GL (based on area-averaged modelled data since July 1971), reflecting the reduction in runoff and surface water inflows across the region.
• Groundwater outflows made up the remaining volume (667 GL) of total outflows, largely associated with discharge to surface water.

Water use

Consumptive use

• A total of 42 GL of water was taken from surface water and groundwater resources for consumptive use in the Daly region during 2024–25, representing an increase of approximately 14% compared to the previous reporting period.

• Surface water diversions across the Daly region during 2024–25 were 9 GL, slightly higher than the previous reporting period, reflecting increased diversions to urban users.
• Approximately 60% of surface water diversions were by users with statutory rights, while urban users accounted for a further 25% of diversions.
• Agricultural users made up around 10% of surface water diversions, with cultural and industrial users comprising the remaining volume of diversions.
• No surface water diversions were reported for mining users during the reporting period.

• Groundwater extractions across the Daly region during 2024–25 were 33 GL, approximately 15% higher than the previous reporting period, primarily due to increased extractions by agricultural users.
• Approximately 82% (27 GL) of groundwater extractions were made by agricultural users, while users with statutory rights accounted for a further 15% of extractions.
• The remaining volume of groundwater extractions was distributed across urban, industrial, cultural, and mining users.

Allocations and diversions

• Total surface water allocations in the Daly region during 2024–25 were 13 GL, 35% higher than the previous reporting period, with no water carried over from the previous year due to licensing provisions that prohibit carryover.
• Approximately 30% of the available surface water allocations were used during the reporting period, primarily by urban users.
• Although the volume of surface water allocations diverted across the Daly region increased by just over 10% from the previous reporting period, diversions remained relatively low, reflecting limited demand within the region.

• Total groundwater allocations in the Daly region during 2024–25 were 118 GL, less than 20% lower than the previous reporting period, with no water carried over from the previous year due to licensing provisions that prohibit carryover.
• Approximately 25% of the available groundwater allocations were extracted during the reporting period, primarily by agricultural users.
• Although groundwater extractions increased by 20% compared to the previous reporting period, the proportion of allocations used remained relatively low, reflecting limited demand relative to the volume of allocations available.

Water restrictions

• 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 hours.
• 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.