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Allocations and availability

Information on water allocations and availability in New South Wales.

Wetlands Sunset, Mid Murray River.

About water availability

We use the rules in water sharing plans to distribute available surface and groundwater resources sustainably and fairly. We also ensure that water entitlements and allocations are secure and tradeable in accordance with plans and rules.

A water allocation, or available water determination, is the proportion of a licensed water user’s entitlement credited to their water account for use. Allocations vary over time based on the water available in dams, river flows and the prevailing catchment and weather conditions.

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Allocations

We develop allocations based on water availability and water sharing plans rules.

Darling River at The Coach and Horses Campground Wilga Station near Wilcannia Walga precinct. The only unregulated section of the Murray Darling Basin.

Drought, floods and extreme events

During extreme events we play a critical role.

Wetlands Sunrise, Mid Murray River.

Controlled allocations

Obtain a new groundwater licence through a controlled allocation (or tender) process.

The Darling River at sunset, NSW.

We are working through the reforms recommended by the National Water Initiative.

Managing groundwater and surface water extractions against extractions limits.

Current temporary water restrictions for regulated river, unregulated river and groundwater water sources.

Information on the assessment of management of the 2020 Northern Basin First Flush event.

How we managed inflows from widespread rainfall over north-west NSW and southern Queensland during January and March 2020.

Our hydrogeologists reviewed and analysed data from 1,300 groundwater monitoring sites.