River Murray flow and use in South Australia

The South Australian government is committed to open and transparent water management and accounting along the length of the River Murray.

The flow and use reports provide summaries of river flows at key locations along the River Murray in South Australia, water used for critical human water needs (CHWN) and consumptive purposes and water for the environment. They provide information for River Murray water users on the volumes flowing to South Australia and how much water is used and for what purpose on a quarterly basis.

The data provided is based on the best available information at the time of publication and may include a combination of metered, estimated and modelled data. All data is subject to final assessment and reconciliation of water use at the end of the water year as part of South Australia’s statutory reporting obligations under Section 71 of the Water Act 2007 (Cth). After this process, a reconciled end of year report will be published.

All historical quarterly and annual reports are available online. Each quarterly report is targeted to be published within two months of the end of each quarter, as far as practicable. Data for quarter 4 was correct as at 9 September 2022.

Between April and June 2022, 2400 GL flowed into South Australia, of which 1609.3 GL was unregulated flow. Of the 790.7 GL of regulated water delivery, 39.4 GL was used for general consumptive purposes (primarily irrigation) and 39.7 GL to support critical human water needs and town water supplies. Conveyance and water left in-river (planned environmental water) totalled 448.2 GL and 263.4 GL was regulated or held environmental water. For further details please refer to the Quarter 4 report.

Historical annual reports on water use in South Australia can be accessed on the Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s website.