National Water Account released

07/06/2018

Today’s release of the latest National Water Account, which covers the 2016-17 financial year, shows that total water use across all regions was 14,794 GL, almost 15 per cent more than the previous financial year.

Total water allocation was 20,974 GL, almost 20 per cent higher than the previous financial year.

Wetter conditions than what was experienced in 2015-16 led to improved storage volumes in most regions, with the majority of Australia's water use focussed on irrigation and agricultural purposes.

Total water used from the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) system across the 2016-17 financial year was 11,233 GL, more than 20 per cent higher than 2015-16. The increase reflected the higher availability of water and wetter conditions across the region.

The report shows that at the end of the 2016-17 financial year, the MDB system was sitting at 69 per cent of its capacity, compared to 39 per cent the previous year. This is the first time in five years volume in the basin has increased.

To see the information released today, go to http://www.bom.gov.au/water/nwa/2017/

The 2017/18 NWA will be released progressively across the next financial year.