GLOSSARY
Anomaly
An anomaly refers to the departure of an element from its long-period average value for the location concerned. See also Temperature anomalies and Rainfall anomalies.
Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification
A classification system for identifying and grouping all producing units (both goods and services) in Australia into industries to permit compatibility of data.
Basin state
A state or territory of Australia that has part, or all, of its area located within the Murray-Darling Basin. The Basin states are New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory.
Catchment
The area of land determined by topographic features, within which rainfall will contribute to run-off at a particular point. The catchment for a major river and its tributaries is usually referred to as a river basin. See also River basin.
Consumer price index
An index of retail prices which provides a quarterly measure of variations in retail prices for goods and services representing a high proportion of the expenditure of wage-earner households. The CPI is adjusted from time to time to take account of changing patterns of consumption and aims to measure only pure price changes and exclude the effects of any changes in quality and quantity of the good concerned.
Deep drainage
The volume of water that moves below the root zone which may or may not enter the saturated zone and become recharge to the groundwater system.
Distributed water
Distributed water is water supplied to a user including through a non-natural network (piped or open channel), and where an economic transaction has occurred for the exchange of this water. The majority of distributed water is supplied by the Water supply, sewerage and drainage services industry (ANZSIC 93 group 3701). The water supply component consists of units mainly engaged in storage, purification or distribution of water by pipeline or carrier. It also includes the operation of irrigation systems that supply water to a farm and the supply of steam and fresh hot water.
Ecosystem
A system formed by the interaction of a group of organisms and their environment.
Equivalised household income
A standardised income measure which enables analysis of the relative wellbeing of households of different size and composition. For further information refer to Appendix 3 of Household Income and Income Distribution, Australia (ABS cat. no. 6523.0). See also Equivalised household income - quintiles.
Equivalised household income - quintiles
Groupings of 20% of the total population of Australia when ranked in ascending order according to equivalised gross household income. See also Equivalised household income.
Evapotranspiration
Process of moisture loss to the atmosphere from plants by transpiration and evaporation.
Gross Value of Agricultural Production (GVAP)
Gross Value of Agricultural Production estimates are derived by the multiplication of price and quantity estimates of agricultural commodities.
Gross Value of Irrigated Agricultural Production (GVIAP)
Gross value of agricultural commodity production on irrigated land. Estimates are derived by the multiplication of price and quantity estimates of agricultural commodities produced on irrigated land.
Groundwater
The supply of fresh water found beneath the earth's surface (usually in aquifers) that is often used for supplying wells and springs.
Group household
A household consisting of unrelated adults.
In-stream use
The use of freshwater in situ (e.g. within a river or stream). Can include recreation, tourism, scientific and cultural uses, ecosystem maintenance, hydro-electricity and commercial activities, and dilution of waste. The volume of water required for most in-stream uses cannot be quantified, with the exception of hydro-electricity generation.
Irrigated land
Land that is artificially supplied with water.
Mean equivalised gross weekly household income
The average equivalised gross weekly household income. See also Equivalised household income and Equivalised household income - quintiles.
Non-irrigated land
Land that is not artificially supplied with water.
Natural Resource Management (NRM) region
A region defined by the Australian Government, in association with state and territory governments, in order to facilitate the integrated delivery of NRM priority issues.
Participation rate
The labour force participation rate is the number of persons in the labour force (employed plus unemployed) expressed as a percentage of the total population aged 15 years or over. People who did not report their labour force status are excluded when calculating the participation rate.
Quintiles
See Equivalised household income and Equivalised household income - quintiles.
Rainfall anomalies
Rainfall anomalies measure the deviation from the long-term average rainfall for a given location. See also Anomaly and Temperature anomalies.
Reuse water
Drainage, waste or storm water that has been used again without first being discharged to the environment. It may be treated to some extent.
Riparian zone
The channel margins (or banks) which form part of the floodplain.
River basin
The 245 river basins in Australia are defined by the area drained by a stream and its tributaries where surface run-off collects. In an area of uncoordinated drainage, drainage patterns define a basin. Refer to map 1.2 in Chapter 1 for an illustration of the river basins that form the Murray-Darling Basin. See also Catchment.
Run-off
The part of precipitation in a given area and period of time that appears as streamflow.
Salinity
The salt content in soil or water.
Self-extracted water
Water extracted directly from the environment for use (including rivers, lakes, groundwater and other water bodies).
Silage
Green fodder preserved in a silo, silage pit, or mound.
Surface water
Water flowing or held in streams, rivers and other wetlands in the landscape.
Temperature anomalies
Temperature anomalies measure the deviation from the mean annual temperature for a given location. See also Anomaly and Rainfall anomalies.
Tributary
A stream contributing its flow to a larger stream or other body of water.
Water consumption
Water consumption is equal to distributed water use plus self-extracted water use plus reuse water use minus distributed water supplied to other users minus in-stream use (where applicable).
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