SOURCES OF AGRICULTURAL WATER
Australia
The main sources of Australia's water for agriculture in 2009-10 were government or private irrigation schemes, groundwater and surface water.
Government or private irrigation schemes accounted for 2,903 gigalitres, or 39% of all agricultural water. Compared to 2008-09, the amount of water supplied by government or private irrigation schemes increased by 11%. Groundwater accounted for 32% of agricultural water use nationally (2,325 gigalitres), a 7% decrease compared to 2008-09. Surface water made up a further 25% of the total volume of water from all sources in 2009-10 (1,871 gigalitres), a 5% decrease compared to 2008-09.
In comparison, a decrease in the volume of water for agricultural purposes was recorded for town or country reticulated mains supply (down by 2% in 2009-10 compared to 2008-09).
State/Territory
Groundwater was the major source of agricultural water in South Australia (60%), Western Australia (43%), and Northern Territory (68%).
Water supplied by government or private irrigation schemes was the main source of agricultural water in New South Wales (35%), Victoria (59%), and Queensland (41%) while in Tasmania, the main source was surface water (71%).
Murray-Darling Basin
In 2009-10, water supplied by government or private irrigation schemes was the major source of water for agriculture in the Murray-Darling Basin, accounting for 48% of agricultural water sourced in the region. Groundwater supplied 26% of the total volume, while surface water also supplied 24%. Outside the Murray-Darling Basin, ground water was the major source of water for agriculture (38%).
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