The Department for Environment and Water (DEW) has announced that the minimum water allocation for South Australian irrigators remains at 87 per cent for 2019-20.
Previously projected water allocations for 2019-20 were:
- 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
- 87 per cent on 1 October.
Water allocations are based on the latest water availability advice from the Murray-Darling Basin Authority.
The seasonal outlook from November 2019 to January 2020 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 remain likely to get to 100 per cent by the end of the water year.
As at 9 October 2019, the Murray-Darling Basin Authority controlled storages are holding 43 per cent capacity (compared to October long-term average of 81 per cent). This is a 1 per cent decrease since the 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 1 November 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 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.