River Murray water allocations – fortnightly update
Despite relatively dry conditions across the southern Murray-Darling, there have been modest improvements of approximately 50 gigalitres to the water resource availability to South Australia since the last update on 15 October 2019.
As a result, South Australian River Murray water allocations will increase to 94 per cent until the next round of water resource availability advice is provided by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority in two weeks’ time.
Department for Environment and Water (DEW) Water Delivery Manager, Jarrod Eaton, said the majority of the improvement has come from inflows into Hume and Dartmouth reservoirs and expected improvements from the Snowy Hydro Scheme.
“The Murray-Darling Basin Authority-controlled storages have decreased by 2 per cent to 41 per cent capacity, which is well below the end of October average of 81 per cent,” Mr Eaton said.
“According to the projections, unless improvements in water availability for the remainder of 2019-20 are worse than for any year in the last 30, water allocations are still likely (at this stage) to get to 100 per cent by the end of the water year.
“Below average rainfall and above average temperatures are forecast by the Bureau of Meteorology over the next few months.
“With current low levels of water in storage and low inflows likely over the rest of spring and into early summer, water availability remains likely to be limited heading into the 2020-21 water year.”
DEW will continue to update its water allocations fortnightly while allocations remain below 100 per cent. The next update will be provided on 15 November 2019.
For more information about water allocations and to view the Water Allocation Statement, visit the Department for Environment and Water’s website.
