Australian Natural Resources Atlas

Natural Resource Topics

Water resources - Allocation and Use - South Australia

Location Map

South Australia

How has South Australia's water use changed since 1985?

Comparison between the 1985 and 2000 'snapshot' assessments is difficult. Factors include the time between assessments (more than 15 years); seasonality and variability of climate; significant potential for changes in land use; and fluctuations in domestic and global market demands.

Water Use, Climate and the Audit Baseline Year - 1996/97

The baseline year for the Audit is the 1996/97 agricultural year starting on the 1st April and ending on 31st of March. For water use the data was compiled for the period 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997 (water calendar year). When it is necessary to collect information for more than one year, the data collected must cover that year or, alternatively, appropriately adjusted to provide a best estimate for that year.

For water use data States and Territories were requested to provide a 5 yearly average value based on the 1996/97 year. Use figures were adjusted in areas where, due to climatic conditions, the water use was not considered to be 'average'.

Climate in 1996/97

During 1996 there was a transition from the weak large-scale climate controls to a strong El Ni?o condition after March 1997. This resulted in a drying over a large part of southern and eastern Australia. From July until September 1996 Victoria had unusually cold and wet weather. The remainder of the southern half of Australia was also wet for three months. Significant areas in south-west Queensland, western and central New South Wales, South Australia, western Victoria, and southern Western Australia had rainfall totals within the highest 10% on record.

During the summer of 1996-97, there was a very active monsoonal season in the tropical zones in western Australia and the Northern Territory. However, this finished abruptly and early, as El Ni?o developed rapidly in autumn 1997. From October 1996 very dry conditions prevailed over most of Victoria, the grain belts of South Australia and north-east Tasmania. Areas of southern Victoria through to south-east South Australia had the driest October to June period on record.

May 1997 brought rain to southern Australia and average to above average rain to parts of Queensland. There was some relief to farmers from the dry and hot conditions over southern Australia in early 1997. In parts of southern Victoria and south-east South Australia the driest October to June period was reported. (ABS Water Account, 2000)

Climate in 1983/84 (Water Review 85)

Water use in any particular year is affected by weather conditions. For much of Australia, the period, July 1983 to June 1984, was equivalent to a normal year in which water use was about average. In south-east Australia, however, abnormal weather patterns were experienced. In general, rainfall totals throughout Victoria were high during the first half of the year but were lower than average in the second half. These weather conditions, along with a continuing sensitivity to water use following the 1982/83 drought, had a marked effect on water usage. Although the 1982/83 drought that affected most of Victoria was broken by above-average rains early in the year, water restrictions in many urban areas were not lifted until much later in the year. Urban water use was therefore less than average, due both to the heavy rains and to the continuance of water restrictions.

The above-average rains in the first half of 1983-84 greatly reduced irrigation demands, and by mid-season virtually unrestricted supplies of water were made available to farmers (for example, 200% of water rights in the Goulburn-Murray Irrigation District). The drier conditions in the latter half of the year somewhat compensated for this, but total usage for the year was generally far less than average.

Rural usage was also less than average, again due to the early wet conditions and sensitivity about excessive water use following the 1982-83 drought. (DPIE, 1987).

Map of change in total water since 1985

Note: The change in water use volume from 1985 to 1996 does not always reflect factors affecting consumption patterns and volumes such as population growth, industry or land-use change or operational improvements. The observed difference may partly be attributed to differences in the approach and assumptions used to estimate water use within the river basin.

Chart of Proportion of total water use by consumptive classes
Basin NameUse in 1983-84 (GL /yr)Use in 1996-97 (GL /yr)% Change
SA682 747 9
Broughton River 12125
Eyre Peninsula 1156
Fleurieu Peninsula 3473
Gawler River 1070605
Glenelg River 4419
Kangaroo Island 2340
Lake Torrens 1190
Lower Murray River 193470144
Mallee 452363-20
Mambray Coast 84-49
Millicent Coast 84-53
Myponga River 22-16
Onkaparinga River 2413,387
Spencer Gulf 86-30
Torrens River 113114,423
Wakefield River 32-28
Willochra Creek 11-4

Note: The total surface water use reported for each river basin does not include the water consumption of the eleven major cities. The data for cities and river basins are reported in the State totals.

How are the surface water resources used and allocated in South Australia?

Chart of Proportion of surface water use by consumptive classes

Table: Surface water diversion and allocation 1996-97

Basin/SWMA NameAllocation (GL/yr)Diversion (GL/yr)Diversion: Allocation (%)
South Australia7417460
"Lower Murray River (SA), Sub Catchment 1" 73659581
"Lower Murray River (SA), Sub Catchment 2" 07no data
Broughton River 14372
Eyre Peninsula 03no data
Fleurieu Peninsula 02no data
Gawler River 322793
Gawler River - Sub Catchment Little Para 08no data
Kangaroo Island 03no data
Lake Torrens 01no data
Light River 121,068
Mambray Coast 03no data
Myponga River 011no data
Onkaparinga River 054no data
Torrens River 037no data
Wakefield River 11158
Willochra Creek 01no data

Note: Allocation is not based on 1999-2000 estimates; Diversion based on five-yearly average 1996-97.

Note: In the table above, the total surface water use reported for each river basin does not include the water consumption of the eleven major cities. The data for cities are reported in the State totals. The volume diverted is the total volume of the SWMA's surface water resources diverted for use both within the management area and for export to other management area.


Water allocations apply to only those water resources prescribed under the Water Resources Act.

The total volume of surface water allocated for use in South Australia is 740GL. This allocation volume is divided into:

In a regional sense the allocation for the environment is inferred, as the amount is not allocated. The Water Resources Act requires that a water allocation plan for a region must firstly define the amount of water needed by the environment before allocation is made.

At present, 750 GL of surface water is used in South Australia annually. This represents 75% of the sustainable surface water resource yield available to the State.

Of the surface water use in South Australia, irrigation accounts for 64%, or 480 GL, of the total extracted. Urban and industrial use accounts for the remaining 270 GL.

Please note: The tables set out below detailing Level 1 and Level 2 water use categories. The sum of the Level 2 water use volumes will not necessarily equal the total Level 1 water use volumes. This is primarily due to lack of more detailed water use data. However, where Level 2 use = Level 1 use then blank cells in the table does not indicate water use unaccounted for in these categories. 

Map of total surface water use in 1996

Table: Surface water use in South Australia 1996-97

Basin/SWMA NameIrrigation (GL/yr)Rural (GL/yr)Urban / Industrial (GL/yr)Total (GL/yr)In-situ (GL/yr)
South Australia46512270747no data
"Lower Murray River (SA), Sub Catchment 1" 447313462no data
"Lower Murray River (SA), Sub Catchment 2" 5228no data
"Millicent Coast (SA), Sub Catchment 4" no datano data44no data
Broughton River 1157no data
Eyre Peninsula no datano data11no data
Fleurieu Peninsula 1134no data
Gairdner no datano data22no data
Gawler River 422732no data
Gawler River - Sub Catchment Little Para 1136362
Kangaroo Island no data213no data
Lake Torrens no datano data11no data
Light River 1134no data
Mambray Coast 1no data44no data
Myponga River 1112no data
Onkaparinga River 423641no data
Spencer Gulf no datano data66no data
Torrens River 51127131no data
Wakefield River 1122no data
Willochra Creek no data111no data
Yorke Peninsula no datano data66no data
Map of surface water use for irrigation in 1996 Map of areas where surface water allocation is greater than sustainable yield

How are South Australia's groundwater resources used and allocated?

It is estimated that there is currently 380 GL of groundwater use in SA, the majority of this is for irrigation supply. Major use areas are:

The 11 GL defined for the Great Artesian Basin is the known industrial / mining use only. Environmental flows maintaining mound springs and flowing wells make up the greatest proportion of use from the basin. 

"GMU"=Groundwater Management Unit "UA"=Unallocated Area

Province Use in 1983-84 (GL /yr)Use in 1996-97 (GL /yr) % changeCurrent Alloc (GL/yr)Current Use : Alloc (%)GMU / UA
South Australia385 430 12 no datano dataGMU
no datano dataUA
Adelaide Geosyncline no data3498111GMU
0no dataUA
Eyre Penninsula no data12121963GMU
0no dataUA
Gawler 1110no dataGMU
0no dataUA
Great Artesian no data8188181,01781GMU
no datano dataUA
Mt Lofty-Flinders Ranges no data26263378GMU
0no dataUA
Murray 17647311,60746GMU
270UA
Musgrave 1110no dataGMU
10UA
Officer 1100no dataGMU
0no dataUA
Otways 121818633656GMU
330UA
Yorke Peninsula no data1no datano datano dataGMU
0no dataUA
Map of total groundwater use in 1996 by province Map of groundwater allocated volume Chart of total groundwater use by use class

Table: Groundwater use in South Australia 1996-97

ProvinceIrrigation (GL/yr)Rural (GL/yr)Urban / industry (GL/yr)In-situ (GL/yr)Total (GL/yr)SY (GL/yr)
South Australia35443 34 no data430 1,206
Adelaide Geosyncline 341no data3455
Eyre Penninsula 1no data121222
Gawler no data1113
Great Artesian 116572131818735
Mt Lofty-Flinders Ranges 26no datano data2619
Murray 72227167702,388
Musgrave no data11164
Officer 0101183
Otways 17517272181,817
Pirie-Torrens no datano datano data0no data
St Vincent no datano datano data02
Yorke Peninsula 11no data11
Map of groundwater use for irrigation in 1996 by groundwater province

Surface and groundwater interactions

There are two areas of the State - Barossa Valley and Clare Valley - which are prescribed for both surface and groundwater resources. Studies are currently underway in these areas, examining the potential of recharging aquifers with local stream flow and reclaimed sewage effluent.

Artificial recharge has been successfully used to supplement aquifer supply in the Angas Bremer groundwater prescribed area for many years and presently there are 26 ASR trials being carried out in the Barossa Valley. The potential and risk of artificial recharge of sewage effluent and stormwater is currently being examined in the Northern Adelaide Plains and McLaren Vale with a view to reuse of the winter discharges of sewage effluent to the ocean. This carries the added benefit of reducing the environmental impact to our coastal marine environments.

Rules for aquifer recharge are currently in their developmental stage. Currently, credits for artificial recharge are recognised in Angas Bremer, Barossa Valley and Clare Valley. A licence allocation is granted for a proportion (ranging from 60 to 100%) of the measured water recharged.

In many areas of South Australia it is common for irrigators to have more than one source of water. The farm dams often provide the better quality water, but at a lower reliability than local groundwater. The mixing of the two waters provides the optimum supply. Alternatively the use of surface water when it is available allows the recovery of the groundwater for use during stream-drought years.

Streamflow from the Mt Lofty and Flinders Ranges often occurs rapidly, and the diversion of some of this flow to settlement ponds and thence to underground aquifers (both alluvial and fractured rock) could supplement current groundwater extractions that are close to sustainable limits. The lower salinity stream flows could also be used to improve the quality of saline groundwater.

Further information

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