Australian Capital Territory summary from water balances

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) water management area covers approximately 2,363 km² and is located completely within the Murrumbidgee River catchment. The major rivers are the Murrumbidgee, Molonglo and Cotter River. Water is supplied to Canberra from three major dams located in the ACT (Corin, Cotter and Bendora Dams) with additional supplies coming from Googong Dam located just outside the ACT border. There are several ornamental lakes that are also used for non-potable purposes such as irrigation; the largest of these is Lake Burley Griffin. Overall, the Australian Capital Territory is a net exporter of water to the Murrumbidgee River system.

Mount Stromlo Water Treatment Plant, commissioned in November 2004, treats water drawn from Cotter Dam to drinking water standards for supply to Canberra residents.Image by John Myers, sourced from SKM

Key points

• As the Australian Capital Territory includes a capital city, Canberra, water use was primarily for urban and landscaping use.
• The recharge, runoff and outflow estimates dominated the water balance representing more than 71% of the overall balance. The Water 2010 estimates for runoff were accepted, but probably had an error of ±50% (Category C).
• Groundwater/surface water interaction was completely estimated and was set to be the same as the volume of groundwater recharge.
• None of the groundwater systems in the ACT were well understood.
• Water use was almost wholly from surface water.
• Water was generally supplied by ACTEW, although the National Capital Authority also took water from Lake Burley Griffin.
• In 2004-05 the environments’ share of the total flow in Australian Capital Territory was 60%.
• Data could not be obtained for the following items in the water balance:
  • Groundwater storage volumes (renewable and non-renewable)
  • Soil - unsaturated zone storage volumes
  • Farm dams
  • Self extracted water
  • River channels storage volumes
  • Seepage from streams to groundwater
  • Groundwater use
  • Groundwater discharge to ET

Further discussion of the water balances for the ACT is provided in the Water Availability National Perspective report, and the Regional Water Balances report, which are both available on the Publications page.

For individual results of water balance assessments go to Regional Water Resources Assessments

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