The Department for Environment and Water (DEW) has announced that the minimum water allocation for South Australian irrigators has risen to 87 percent for 2019-20.
This is up from previously projected water allocations of:
- 14 per cent in April
- 22 per cent in May
- 26 per cent in June
- 31 per cent on 1 July
- 38 per cent on 15 July
- 50 per cent on 1 August
- 68 per cent on 15 August
- 74 per cent on 2 September
- 81 per cent on 16 September.
The increased allocation is based on the latest water availability advice from the Murray-Darling Basin Authority.
The seasonal outlook from October to December indicates that it is likely to be drier than average with warmer temperatures.
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 likely to get to 100 per cent by the end of the water year.
As at 1 October 2019, the Murray-Darling Basin Authority controlled storages have decreased to 44 per cent capacity since the last water allocation announcement two weeks ago.
Water users will be provided with water allocation updates twice a month reflecting any improved water availability while water allocations remain under 100 per cent. The next update will be on 15 October 2019.
Private carryover has been granted to eligible entitlement holders. This allowed eligible unused water from 2018-19 to be carried over for use in 2019-20. Private carryover is a form of insurance and it is currently boosting allocations of water users who elected to carry water over this year. The total allocation against your entitlement plus any carryover cannot exceed 100 per cent. These rules are reflected in the volume of water available to account holders following each allocation announcement.
You can stay up to date with DEW’s announcements here.