Snowy River
Indicator: Water Use
Results for this indicator are also available for [an error occurred while processing this directive]
Please note: Text or data highlighted in this colour represent an update to this indicator for the period 2008/09.
What the results tell us about Snowy River Shire
The drinking water used in the Council area largely comes from storages controlled by Snowy Hydro, which is the major supplier of water for the irrigation areas on the Murray and Murrumbidgee Rivers. The amount used by the Shire is a negligible proportion of the total water use. Lake Jindabyne is operated to supply water through the whole Snowy Hydro system, and hence is drawn down to low levels in drought. This has necessitated alterations to the Jindabyne water intake to reach further down in the lake. While water restrictions have not been imposed, the domestic consumption of water has fallen by nearly 19% over period 2005-2008 but increased again in 2008-2009 by 17% over previous year.
Supply- how much water could we have?
The Snowy Shire Council area water supplies are drawn from a range of sources. The source of the majority of the supply is Lake Jindabyne, a major dam in the Snowy Hydro complex. This dam is linked with other storages in the system, which is the main irrigation supply of water for the Murray and Murrumbidgee River irrigation areas.
Drinking water from this source is a negligible proportion of the water availability, even in drought.
Water is drawn from Lake Eucumbene, Lake Jindabyne, Little Thredbo River, Thredbo River and Snowy River. These systems together supply water to about 6,000 people living in ten communities, the largest being Jindabyne.
How much water is available?
Adaminaby is supplied from Lake Eucumbene. This system supplies 600 people with reticulated water. Dalgety is supplied from the Snowy River, which supplies 100 people. Eucumbene Cove is supplied from Lake Eucumbene, this supplies 50 people with reticulated water. Jindabyne supply comes from two intakes on Lake Jindabyne, the main Jindabyne system which supplies 2,800 people with reticulated water and the Jindabyne East intake which supplies 2,095 people with reticulated water. Kalkite is also supplied from Lake Jindabyne which provides water to 150 people with reticulated water, The Lake Crakenback Village is a private supply from the Little Thredbo River which provides for 250 people.
Consumption – how much water was used?
A reduction in reticulated water use was seen from 2005-2006 to 2008 but water use climbed back somewhat in the last year. This still amounts to an 8.5 % reduction over four years despite an increase in commercial and industrial use. No data are available for 2004-2005.
Total Use
Figure 1. Total Water Use (surface and reticulated) in Snowy River Shire Council area 2000-09
Figure 1 was updated to include data for 2008-09.
Use by sector
Figure 2. Water use by Sector – Snowy River Shire Council 2006-2009
Figure 2 was updated to include data for 2008/09.
As can be seen from the graph above the residential water use declined from 2006 to 2008 but increased to nearly 2007 levels in 2009. The commercial sector has increased by 9% since 2006 but there has been little change in industrial use over the same period.
Environmental flows
Jindabyne Dam upgrade works were substantially completed in 2009 by Snowy Hydro Ltd with the removal of the construction coffer dam. These works will allow the release of environmental flows to the Snowy River in accordance with the Snowy Water Licence. This Licence allows for increasing environmental releases to the Showy River below Jindabyne, up to 212 Gigalitres/annum by June 2012. The annual pattern of flow releases is advised by an independent Snowy Scientific Committee, and the flows are to be sourced from irrigation areas in NSW and Vic from either water efficiency savings or purchased entitlements.
Managing water demand and use
Water conservation
No water restrictions have been reported
Recycling – making the drop go further.
Construction of a pipeline is underway to use recycled wastewater from Berridale wastewater treatment plant to irrigate the Coolamatong golf course.
Laws and policy
The Council area lies within the Snowy River Catchment Management Authority, the Southern Rivers Catchment Authority and a small part within the Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority.
Future water supply.
As a consequence of falling water levels in Jindabyne dam, new offtake structures have been built to allow water to be drawn at lower levels.
About the data
Quantitative data were received from the Snowy River Shire Council
