4610.0 - Water Account, Australia, 2010-11 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 27/11/2012   
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STATE FACT SHEETS

New South Wales
Victoria
Queensland
South Australia
Western Australia
Tasmania
Northern Territory
Australian Capital Territory

WATER ACCOUNT AUSTRALIA 2010–11

New South Wales
  • Water consumption for New South Wales was higher than any other State or Territory in 2010–11, amounting to 5,041 GL or 38% of total water consumption in Australia. It was the only state/territory to have an increase in water use in 2010–11.
  • In New South Wales the Gross State Product was $83 million per GL of water consumed. This is below the Australian average of $99 million per GL.
  • New South Wales households recorded the highest expenditure ($1,260 million) on urban distributed water. New South Wales households also recorded the highest net use of urban distributed and reuse water (499 GL).
  • The average price of water paid by New South Wales households in 2010–11 was $2.53 per kL, just above the Australian average of $2.44 per kL.
  • Household consumption of water was 527 GL in 2010–11, or 10% of total water consumption in the state.
  • Household water use per capita decreased from 77 kL in 2009–10 to 72 kL in 2010–11.
  • Water providers in New South Wales supplied 3,053 GL of distributed water in 2010–11. The largest user of distributed water in New South Wales was the Agriculture industry (1,207 GL or 39%), with households also using a significant volume (496 GL or 16%).
  • The Agriculture industry consumed 2,861 GL in 2010–11 compared to 2,127 GL in 2009–10, an increase of 34%. The main contributor to the increase was Sheep, beef cattle and grain farming which increased by 514 GL or 44%.
  • The gross value of irrigated agricultural production (GVIAP) in New South Wales in 2010–11 was $2,903 million or 22% of the Australian total.
  • The Water supply industry was a significant user of water, consuming 904 GL or 18% of total consumption. Water losses constituted the majority of this, and amounted to 844 GL or 28% of distributed water supply for the state.
  • New South Wales was the highest consumer of reuse water compared to the other States and Territories in 2010–11 at 161 GL, which was 46% of total Australian reuse water consumed.
  • The Manufacturing industry consumed 144 GL of water in 2010–11 (an increase of 3% from 2009–10), while Mining consumed 78 GL in 2010–11 (a 27% increase).
  • The Electricity and gas supply industry used a total of 12,216 GL of water, however most of this was used in-stream for hydro-electricity generation (12,133 GL).
  • New South Wales revenue for total water sales and services was $3,794 million in 2010–11. This was the highest of all States and Territories and accounted for 27% of the Australian total.

WATER ACCOUNT AUSTRALIA 2010–11

Victoria
  • Water consumption in Victoria was 2,359 GL in 2010–11, down 19% from 2009–10.
  • In Victoria, total water consumption was 420 kL per capita, the second lowest in Australia and well below the Australian average of 590 kL per capita.
  • In Victoria the Gross State Product was $130 million per GL of water consumed, an increase of $29 million per GL. This was above the Australian average of $99 million per GL.
  • Household water consumption for Victoria was 311 GL or 13% of the state's total water consumption, a decrease from 323 GL in 2009–10. Household water consumption per capita was 55 kL in 2010–11, the lowest of all States and Territories.
  • The average price of water paid by households in Victoria in 2010–11 was $2.34 per kL, close to the Australian average of $2.44 per kL.
  • The Agriculture industry was the highest consumer of water, responsible for the consumption of 1,234 GL (or 52% of the total water consumption) - Agriculture water use dropped 20% from 2009–10 mainly due to a 147 GL decease in water use in Dairy cattle farming.
  • The gross value of irrigated agricultural production (GVIAP) in Victoria was the highest of all the States and Territories at $3,881 million in 2010–11 or 30% of total GVIAP in Australia.
  • Victoria accounted for 23% (1,664 GL) of the total distributed water in Australia in 2010–11, decreasing by 623 GL or 27% from 2009–10.
  • Rural distributed water revenue in Victoria accounted for 12% (or $146 million) of total distributed water revenue, the highest percentage of any State or Territory.
  • Victoria's water distribution losses were the second highest in Australia, at 276 GL or 17% of total supply. The majority of losses were from irrigation/rural water suppliers (204 GL).
  • Approximately 78 GL of reuse water was used in Victoria, a decrease from 96 GL in 2009–10.
  • The Manufacturing industry was a significant user of water, consuming 144 GL or 6% of total water consumption in Victoria, a slight increase from 138 GL in 2009–10.
  • The Electricity and gas supply industry consumed 117 GL of water but used 6,712 GL to provide hydro-electricity (an in-stream or non-consumptive use).
  • Total revenue from water sales and services in Victoria accounted for $3,224, or 23% of the Australian total, in 2010–11.
WATER ACCOUNT AUSTRALIA 2010–11

Queensland
  • Water consumption in Queensland was 2,964 GL in 2010–11, the second highest volume in Australia.
  • In Queensland, total water consumption was 647 kL per capita - this was the fourth highest in Australia and above the Australian average of 590 kL per capita.
  • In Queensland the Gross State Product was $85 million per GL of water consumed. This was below the Australian average of $99 million per GL.
  • In 2010–11, the average price of water paid by Queensland households was $2.95, the second highest in Australia. The average water price in Australia was $2.44 per kL.
  • Households consumed 311 GL of water in 2010–11, which was almost 11% of total water consumption. This decreased 13% since 2009–10 when household water consumption was 356 GL.
  • Queensland households recorded the second highest expenditure ($853 million) on urban distributed water of all State and Territories.
  • Household water consumption per capita was 68 kL in 2010–11, a significant decrease from 79 kL per capita in 2009–10 and below the Australian average of 75 kL per capita.
  • The Agriculture industry consumed the most water in 2010–11 with 1,878 GL or 63% of the total water consumption in Queensland.
  • The gross value of irrigated agricultural production in Queensland was $3,205 million in 2010–11, which was a slight decrease from $3,224 million in 2009–10.
  • 56 GL of reuse water was used in 2010–11, a decrease from 61 GL in 2009–10.
  • The Mining and Manufacturing industries used 125 GL (an increase of 10% from 2009–10) and 147 GL (a decrease of 21%) respectively in 2010–11.
  • The Electricity and gas supply industry extracted 1,663 GL of water in 2010–11, mostly for in-stream use for hydro-electricity generation. This was a 38% increase from 2009–10.
  • Queensland had the the highest revenue from bulk water sales of all State and Territories, accounting for $887 million or 50% of the Australian total in 2010–11.

WATER ACCOUNT AUSTRALIA 2010–11

South Australia
  • Water consumption in South Australia was 1,023 GL compared to 1,110 GL in 2009–10, a decrease of 8%.
  • The Agriculture industry was the largest consumer of water in 2010–11, accounting for 646 GL or 63% of the total water consumption in South Australia.
  • Water consumption per capita was 617 kL, above the Australian average of 590 kL per capita.
  • Gross State Product was $84 million per GL of water consumed, an increase of $9 million per GL. This was below the Australian average of $99 million per GL.
  • The average water price was $3.09 per kL in 2010–11, the highest in Australia and well above the Australian average of $2.44 per kL.
  • Households consumed 115 GL in 2010–11, a slight decrease from 123 GL in 2009–10. Water consumption per household decreased from 75 kL in 2009–10 to 70 kL in 2010–11.
  • The gross value of irrigated agriculture in South Australia in 2010–11 was $1,429 million, up from $1,360 million in 2009–10.
  • South Australian households recorded $354 million expenditure on urban distributed water.
  • The total volume of water distributed in South Australia in 2010–11 was 315 GL, a 17% decrease from 2009–10. Distribution water losses amounted to 26 GL or 8% of total distributed water supply.
  • The use of reuse water decreased from 32 GL in 2009–10 to 25 GL in 2010–11. Agriculture used most of the reuse water (50% or 13 GL).
  • The Manufacturing industry was a significant user of water, accounting for 8% of total water use. Its consumption increased 10% from 2009–10 to 84 GL. Mining consumed 24 GL of water, while the Electricity and gas supply industry consumed only 2 GL.

WATER ACCOUNT AUSTRALIA 2010–11

Western Australia
  • Water consumption in Western Australia was 1,369 GL in 2010–11, a 1% decrease from 2009–10 when water consumption was 1,386 GL.
  • Total water consumption per capita was 583 kL, just below the Australian average of 590 kL.
  • The Gross State Product per GL of water consumed was $137 million per GL, the second highest of the States and Territories, above the Australian average of $99 million per GL.
  • The average water price paid by households was $1.75 per kL; this was the equal second lowest in Australia and well below the Australian average of $2.44 per kL.
  • Household water consumption per capita was the third highest of any State or Territory at 132 kL per person, well above the Australia average of 75 kL per person.
  • The gross value of irrigated agricultural production was $805 million in 2010–11, up from $757 million in 2009–10.
  • The Agriculture industry consumed the largest volume of water (319 GL or 23%), followed by Households (310 GL or 23%).
  • Distribution water losses were 99 GL or 16% of total distributed supply.
  • The use of reuse water increased slightly from 17 GL in 2009–10 to 18 GL in 2010–11.
  • The Mining industry consumed 19% or 264 GL of total state water consumption, the Manufacturing industry consumed 57 GL or 4% and the Electricity and gas supply industry consumed 18 GL in 2010–11.
  • Rural distributed water revenue accounted for $7 million or 1% of total distributed water revenue in 2010–11 for Western Australia, the lowest percentage of States and Territories that received revenue from rural distributed water.
WATER ACCOUNT AUSTRALIA 2010–11

Tasmania
  • Water consumption in Tasmania was 371 GL in 2010–11, a decrease of 20% from 2009–10 when it was 464 GL.
  • Total water consumption was 727 kL per capita, the highest in Australia.
  • The Gross State Product was $64 million per GL of water consumed. This was the lowest of all States and Territories and well below the Australian average of $99 million per GL.
  • Tasmania had the largest volume of water extracted from the environment for use at 36,432 GL but nearly all of this was for hydro-electric power generation (35,699 GL, an in-stream or non-consumptive use).
  • The average water price for households in Tasmania was equal second lowest of all the States and Territories at $1.75 per kL in 2010–11, well below the Australian average of $2.44 per kL.
  • Household water consumption in 2010–11 was 69 GL which is a slight decrease from 2009–10.
  • Household water consumption was 135 kL per capita and above the average for Australia of 75 kL per capita.
  • The Agriculture industry was the largest consumer, accounting for 185 GL or 50% of the total water consumption in the state.
  • The gross value of irrigated agricultural production was $626 million in 2010–11, a decrease from $671 million in 2009–10.
  • The Manufacturing industry was a significant user of water in Tasmania, consuming 50 GL in 2010–11 or 13% of total water consumption. This was an increase of 36% or 13 GL from 2009–10.
  • The Aquaculture industry in Tasmania used 95% (351 GL) of the total water used by this industry in Australia. However, most of this water was used in-stream and the water consumption for Aquaculture in Tasmania was only 198 ML.
  • Water providers in Tasmania supplied 94 GL of distributed water in 2010–11, a decrease of 15 GL or 14% from 2009–10.
  • The use of reuse water in 2010–11 was similar to 2009–10 at 7 GL.
  • Rural distributed water revenue accounted for $9 million or 7% of total distributed water revenue in 2010–11 for the state.

WATER ACCOUNT AUSTRALIA 2010–11

Northern Territory
  • Water consumption in the Northern Territory was 167 GL in 2010–11, equal to that in 2009–10.
  • Total water consumption was 724 kL per capita, above the Australian average of 590 kL per capita, and was the second highest of all States and Territories.
  • The Gross State Product was $98 million per GL of water consumed. This was close to the Australian average of $99 million per GL.
  • Household water consumption accounted for 31 GL or 19% of total water consumption in the Northern Territory.
  • Household water consumption per capita decreased from 162 kL in 2009–10 to 136 kL in 2010–11 but remains the highest of all States and Territories.
  • The average price of water paid by Northern Territory households in 2010–11 was $1.51 per kL, the lowest rate in Australia.
  • The Agricultural industry consumed 52 GL (31%) of water in the Northern Territory, an increase from 49 GL in 2009–10.
  • The Mining industry consumed 24 GL or 14% of total water consumption while the Manufacturing industry consumed 23 GL of water (14%).
  • Total distributed water consumption was 55 GL, with water losses in distribution accounting for 8 GL or 15% of total distributed supply.
  • The Northern Territory revenue from total water sales and services was $113 million in 2010–11. This was the lowest of all States and Territories and accounted for only 1% of the Australian total.

WATER ACCOUNT AUSTRALIA 2010–11

Australian Capital Territory
  • The Australian Capital Territory consumed 43 GL of water in 2010–11, a slight decrease from 2009–10 when 47 GL of water was consumed.
  • Total water consumption was 118 kL per capita, the lowest in Australia and below the Australian average of 590 kL per capita.
  • The Gross State Product was $686 million per GL of water consumed. This was the highest in Australia and higher than the Australian average of $99 million per GL.
  • The Australian Capital Territory recorded the fourth highest average water price for households at an average of $2.52 per kL in 2010–11.
  • Households accounted for 25 GL or 59% of total water consumption - this was the largest proportion of total consumption by households of all the States and Territories.
  • Household water consumption per capita was 69 kL in 2010–11, which was below the Australian average of 75 kL per capita.
  • Just over 4 GL of reuse water was used in the Australian Capital Territory in 2010–11, a similar amount to that used in 2009–10.
  • The Australian Capital Territory revenue from total water sales and services was $228 million in 2010–11. This was the third lowest of all States and Territories and accounted for 2% of the Australian total.