4610.0 - Water Account, Australia, 2012-13 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 27/11/2014   
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STATE AND TERRITORY SUMMARIES

WATER ACCOUNT AUSTRALIA 2012-13

New South Wales
  • In New South Wales, households and industry consumed 8,713 GL of water in 2012-13, up by 39% from 2011-12 when it was 6,262 GL.
  • This increase was driven by the 'Agriculture' industry, which consumed 6,210 GL in 2012-13 compared to 4,037 GL in 2011-12, an increase of 54%. The main contributor to the increase for 'Agriculture' was the 'Sheep, Beef Cattle and Grain Farming' sector, which increased by 1,470 GL, or 53%.
  • In the two-year period between 2010-11 and 2012-13, consumption by the 'Agriculture' industry in New South Wales more than doubled, up from 2,861 GL to 6,210 GL. During this period, the agricultural commodities with the greatest increases in irrigation water consumption were cotton (an increase of 1,159 GL, or 108%) and rice (an increase of 1,015 GL, or 134%).
  • Water consumption for New South Wales was the highest of any state or territory in 2012-13 at 8,713 GL or 44% of total water consumption in Australia.
  • In New South Wales, the Gross State Product per kL of water consumed was $54. This was below the Australian average of $77 per kL.
  • The average price of water paid by New South Wales households in 2012-13 was $3.01 per kL, an increase of 12% from 2011-12; this was just above the Australian average of $2.97 per kL.
  • Household water consumption per person increased from 70 kL in 2011-12 to 77 kL in 2012-13, just below the Australian average of 80 kL.
  • The gross value of irrigated agricultural production (GVIAP) in New South Wales in 2012-13 was about $3.4 billion (an 8% increase from 2011-12), or 25% of the Australian total.
  • The 'Manufacturing' industry consumed 123 GL of water in 2012-13 (an increase of 21% from 2011-12), while 'Mining' consumed 106 GL in 2012-13 (a 9% increase).
  • New South Wales revenue for total water sales and services was $4.3 billion in 2012-13. This was the highest of all states and territories and accounted for 27% of the Australian total.
  • In New South Wales an estimated 38 GL of water was consumed from household rainwater tanks; this was the second highest of all states and territories and accounted for 25% of all household tank water consumed in Australia.

Victoria
  • Water consumption in Victoria was estimated at 4,220 GL in 2012-13, 21% of the Australian total and a 27% increase from 2011-12.
  • In Victoria the Gross State Product per kL of water consumed was $79, a decrease of $18 per kL from 2011-12. This was just above the Australian average of $77 per kL.
  • Estimated household water consumption for Victoria was 357 GL, or 8% of the state's total water consumption, a 13% increase from 316 GL in 2011-12.
  • Estimated household water consumption per person was 62 kL in 2012-13, the lowest of all states and territories, 14 kL less per capita than the next highest state or territory.
  • The estimated average price of water paid by households in Victoria in 2012-13 was $2.62 per kL, a decrease of 6% from 2011-12 and well below the Australian average of $2.97 per kL.
  • The 'Agriculture' industry was the highest consumer of water in Victoria, responsible for the consumption of 2,768 GL (or 66% of the total water consumption for the state). 'Agriculture' water consumption increased by 30% from 2011-12, attributed mainly to an increase in water use in the 'Dairy Cattle farming' sector (361 GL, or a 36% increase).
  • The gross value of irrigated agricultural production (GVIAP) in Victoria was about $3.7 billion in 2012-13, 28% of the total GVIAP in Australia and the highest reported GVIAP of all the states and territories.
  • Total revenue from water sales and services in Victoria in 2012-13 was about $4.1 billion, accounting for 25% of the Australian total.
  • The 'Manufacturing' industry consumed an estimated 129 GL or 3% of total water consumption in Victoria, a 15% increase from 113 GL in 2011-12.
  • Water supplied by soil in Victoria was estimated at 25,127 GL; this represented 7% of Australian supply.
  • Victorians consumed an estimated 34 GL of water sourced from household rainwater tanks; they were the third highest consumers of household tank water of all the states and territories.

Queensland
  • Water consumption in Queensland was estimated at 3,789 GL in 2012-13, 19% of the Australian total water consumption and the third highest among states and territories.
  • In Queensland, total water consumption per capita was 814 kL, 5% below the Australian average of 854 kL.
  • In Queensland the Gross State Product was $78 per kL of water consumed, slightly more than the Australian average of $77 per kL.
  • In 2012-13, the average price of water paid by Queensland households was $3.47 per kL, the second highest in Australia. The average water price in Australia was $2.97 per kL.
  • Household water consumption per capita was 77 kL, just below the Australian average of 80 kL.
  • Queensland households recorded the second highest expenditure ($1.2 billion) on urban distributed water of all state and territories.
  • The 'Agriculture' industry consumed the most water in Queensland in 2012-13 with 2,463 GL, or 65% of the total water consumption in Queensland, a 22% increase since 2011-12.
  • The gross value of irrigated agricultural production (GVIAP) in Queensland was $3.3 billion in 2012-13, a decrease of $292 million, or 8%, from 2011-12. This was the largest decrease of all states and territories. Cotton was the main reason for the decrease - its GVIAP decreased by 33%, from $915 million to $612 million, during this period.
  • The 'Mining' and 'Manufacturing' industries consumed an estimated 142 GL (a decrease of 17% from 2011-12) and 128 GL (a decrease of 24%) of water respectively in 2012-13.
  • Queensland had the highest level of soil water supply of all the states and territories, estimated at 109 GL, or 45% greater than the next highest state or territory.
  • Queensland had the highest estimated consumption of water sourced from household rainwater tanks - 44 GL (or 29% of Australian consumption) in 2012-13. Queensland also had the largest tank storage capacity (8 GL) of all the states and territories.


South Australia
  • Water consumption in South Australia was estimated at 1,113 GL in 2012-13 (or 6% of Australian water consumption), compared to 1,036 GL in 2011-12.
  • The 'Agriculture' industry was the largest consumer of water in South Australia in 2012-13, accounting for 759 GL or 68% of the total water consumption in South Australia.
  • Water consumption, by industry and households, per capita was 666 kL, 22% lower than the Australian average of 854 kL per capita.
  • Gross State Product per kL of water consumed was $85, down from $88 per kL in 2011-12. This was higher than the Australian average of $77 per kL.
  • The average water price paid by households was $4.30 per kL in 2012-13, increasing by 9% from 2011-12 when it was $3.96. This was the highest average water price in Australia and well above the Australian average of $2.97 per kL.
  • Household water consumption per capita increased from 72 kL in 2011-12 to 77 kL in 2012-13, which was just below the Australian average of 80 kL per capita.
  • South Australian urban households spent an estimated total of $550 million on distributed water, an increase of 16% from 2011-12.
  • The gross value of irrigated agricultural production (GVIAP) in South Australia was $1.5 billion in 2012-13, a 7% increase from 2011-12. This was driven by increases in GVIAP for 'Fruit and nuts' and 'Grapes', increasing by 19% and 21% respectively.
  • The 'Manufacturing' industry in South Australia accounted for 4% (50 GL) of the total water consumption for the state, down by 32% from 2011-12. 'Mining' consumed 36 GL of water, while the 'Electricity and Gas Supply' industry consumed only 2 GL.
  • South Australia consumed an estimated 20 GL of water sourced from household rainwater tanks - this had the equivalent monetary value of $87 million.

Western Australia
  • Water consumption in Western Australia was estimated at 1,287 GL in 2012-13, a 9% decrease from 2011-12 when it was 1,420 GL.
  • Estimated water consumption (by industry and households) per capita was 511 kL, 40% lower than the Australian average of 854 kL.
  • The Gross State Product per kL of water consumed was $197, the second highest of all states and territories and 156% higher than the Australian average of $77 per kL.
  • The average water price paid by Western Australian households was $2.16 per kL, the second lowest among the states and territories and well below the national average of $2.97 per kL.
  • Household water consumption per person in Western Australia was on par with the Northern Territory as being the highest of all the states and territories, at 132 kL.
  • The gross value of irrigated agricultural production (GVIAP) was $791 million in 2012-13, slightly up from $786 million in 2011-12.
  • Households, the 'Agriculture' industry and the 'Mining' industry consumed the largest volume of water in Western Australia (333 GL, 288 GL, and 241 GL respectively) in 2012-13. These three sectors accounted for two thirds (67%) of the total state water consumption.
  • The 'Manufacturing' industry consumed 58 GL (4% of the total water consumption for the state) and the 'Electricity and Gas Supply' industry consumed 31 GL (2%) in 2012-13.
  • In 2012-13, an estimated 11 GL of water was consumed from household rainwater tanks, of which 3 GL was consumed in Perth.

Tasmania
  • Estimated water consumption in Tasmania was 397 GL in 2012-13, an 8% increase from 2011-12 (368 GL).
  • Total water consumption (by industries and households) in Tasmania was 774 kL per capita, the third highest of all states and territories.
  • The Gross State Product per kL of water consumed was $61, well below the Australian average of $77 per kL and the second lowest of the states and territories.
  • In 2012-13, around 38,250 GL of water was extracted from the environment for use in Tasmania, but nearly all of this was by the 'Electricity and Gas Supply' industry (37,471 GL) for hydro-electric power generation, which is an in-stream or non-consumptive use.
  • Tasmanian households paid an average price of $2.56 per kL for water in 2012-13, well below the Australian average of $2.97 per kL. However, the average price for Tasmania increased by 20% from 2011-12 when it was $2.14 per kL - this was the largest increase of any state or territory.
  • Household water consumption per capita in Tasmania was 76 kL, 5% lower than the Australian average of 80 kL per capita. Tasmania had the largest percentage decrease (30%) from 2011–12 in household water consumption per capita of all the states and territories.
  • The 'Agriculture' industry in Tasmania was the largest water consumer in 2012-13, accounting for 246 GL or 62% of the total state water consumption. The 'Manufacturing' industry consumed 31 GL or 8% of total state water consumption.
  • The gross value of irrigated agricultural production (GVIAP) in Tasmania was $613 million in 2012-13, slightly lower than in 2011-12 ($627 million).
  • The 'Aquaculture' industry in Tasmania used 315 GL but almost all of this water was used in-stream. Total water consumed by this industry in Tasmania was only 177 ML.
  • Total revenue from sales of distributed water in Tasmania in 2012-13 was $141 million, decreasing slightly from $146 million in 2011-12. Revenue from waste water and other water related services was estimated at $109 million, up from $101 million in 2011-12.

Northern Territory
  • Estimated water consumption by industry and households in the Northern Territory was 176 GL in 2012-13, a slight increase from 2011-12 (174 GL).
  • Total water consumption (industries and households) per capita was 727 kL, 15% lower than the Australian average of 854 kL per capita.
  • The Gross State Product per kL of water consumed was $113, well above the Australian average of $77 per kL and the third highest of all states and territories.
  • Households in the Northern Territory consumed about 32 GL of water in 2012-13, accounting for 18% of total state water consumption.
  • Household water consumption per capita during this period was 132 kL. This was on par with Western Australia as being the highest of all states and territories, but was a 9% decrease from 2011-12 when it was 145 kL per capita.
  • The average price of water paid by Northern Territory households in 2012-13 was $1.93 per kL, the lowest of all states and territories. This was an increase of 17% from 2011-12 when it was $1.65 per kL, however it was still well below the Australian average of $2.97 per kL.
  • The 'Agricultural' industry consumed 45 GL (25%) of water in the Northern Territory. 'Mining' is the only industry that consumed more with 48 GL (27%).
  • In 2012-13, an estimated 0.5 GL of household rainwater tank water was consumed, with the equivalent monetary value of $1.1 million.

Australian Capital Territory
  • The Australian Capital Territory consumed an estimated 54 GL of water in 2012-13, up by 8% from 2011-12 when it was 50 GL.
  • Total water consumption (industries and households) per capita was 142 kL, the lowest of all states and territories and well below the Australian average of 854 kL per capita.
  • The Gross State Product per kL of water consumed was $637, well above the Australian average of $77 per kL.
  • The Australian Capital Territory recorded an average water price for households at $2.93 per kL in 2012-13, an increase of only 2% from 2011-12. This was just below the Australian average of $2.97 per kL.
  • Households in the Australian Capital Territory consumed about 30 GL in 2012-13, which is higher than the consumption of all industries combined (24 GL).
  • Household water consumption per person in the Australian Capital Territory in 2012-13 was 79 kL, which was the third highest of all the states and territories but slightly below the Australian average of 80 kL per person.
  • In 2012-13 an estimated 1 GL (1 million kilolitres) of water was consumed from household rainwater tanks in the Australian Capital Territory.