Summary of current water allocations
The tables below summarise the current water allocations for:
- regulated rivers
- unregulated rivers, and
- groundwater water sources.
Allocations that are normally expressed in megalitres per unit share–for example high security, general security and aquifer access–are expressed as percentages in the tables below. One megalitre (ML) per unit share equates to 100% allocation, whereas 0.50 ML per share equates to 50% allocation and 0.05 ML per share equates to 5% allocation.
Tables for the unregulated rivers and groundwater sources report by exception. Only the water source licence categories that did not receive full allocations are listed.
Carryover water
Water users may have access to water in their account carried over unused from the previous year. Carryover rules vary between water sources and between licence categories. Towns, domestic and stock, and most high security licence categories cannot carryover.
Drought stage
The current drought stage for each inland river valley is listed in the table. These can range from Stage 1 (Normal operations) to Stage 4 (Critical drought). The drought stage is determined by the extent of operational, allocation or restriction measures that may need to be applied during water shortages or as the system recovers. Further information is available at extreme events.
Drought stage per water source
Water source | System type* | Drought stage | Date of last stage change |
Lower Darling | Regulated river | Stage 1 | April 2021 |
Barwon-Darling | Unregulated river | Stage 1 | April 2021 |
Lower Namoi | Regulated river | Stage 1 | January 2021 |
Upper Namoi | Regulated river | Stage 1 | January 2021 |
Macquarie | Regulated river | Stage 1 | September 2020 |
Cudgegong | Regulated river | Stage 1 | August 2020 |
Gwydir | Regulated river | Stage 1 | January 2021 |
NSW Border Rivers | Regulated river | Stage 1 | April 2021 |
Belubula | Regulated river | Stage 1 | April 2021 |
Peel | Regulated river | Stage 1 | January 2021 |
Lachlan | Regulated river | Stage 1 | September 2020 |
Murray | Regulated river | Stage 1 | August 2020 |
Murrumbidgee | Regulated river | Stage 1 | August 2019 |
Hunter | Regulated river | Stage 1 | August 2020 |
Richmond | Regulated river | Stage 1 | February 2020 |
Bega/Brogo | Regulated river | Stage 1 | February 2020 |
Current allocations - regulated rivers
River valley
Allocations 2021-22
Licence category
Date of last allocation increase
Murray*
10%
General security
15 July 2021
97%
High security
1 July 2021
100%
Domestic and stock
1 July 2021
100%
Local water utilities
1 July 2021
Lower Darling*
100%
General security
1 July 2021
100%
High security
1 July 2021
100%
Domestic and stock
1 July 2021
100%
Local water utilities
1 July 2021
Murrumbidgee*
50%
General security
15 July 2021
95%
High security
1 July 2021
100%
Domestic and stock
1 July 2021
100%
Local water utilities
1 July 2021
Lachlan*
11%
General security
9 July 2021
100%
High security
1 July 2021
100%
Domestic and stock
1 July 2021
100%
Local water utilities
1 July 2021
Belubula*
0%
General security
1 July 2021
100%
High security
1 July 2021
100%
Domestic and stock
1 July 2021
Macquarie and Cudgegong*
12%
General security
12 July 2021
100%
High security
1 July 2021
100%
High security (sub categories)
1 July 2021
100%
Domestic and stock
1 July 2021
100%
Local water utilities
1 July 2021
Lower Namoi*
9.8%
General security
7 July 2021
100%
High security
1 July 2021
100%
High security (sub categories)
1 July 2021
100%
Domestic and stock
1 July 2021
100%
Local water utilities
1 July 2021
Upper Namoi*
100%
General security
1 July 2021
100%
High security
1 July 2021
100%
Domestic and stock
1 July 2021
100%
Local water utilities
1 July 2021
Peel
67%
General security
9 July 2021
100%
High security
1 July 2021
100%
Domestic and stock
1 July 2021
100%
Local water utilities
1 July 2021
Gwydir*
11.1%
General security
7 July 2021
100%
High security
1 July 2021
100%
Domestic and stock
1 July 2021
100%
Local water utilities
1 July 2021
NSW Border Rivers*
100%
General security A Class
27 July 2021
4.7%
General security B Class
27 July 2021
100%
High security
1 July 2021
100%
Domestic and stock
1 July 2021
100%
Local water utilities
1 July 2021
Richmond
100%
General security
1 July 2021
100%
High security
1 July 2021
100%
Domestic and stock
1 July 2021
100%
Local water utilities
1 July 2021
Paterson*
100%
General security
1 July 2021
100%
High security
1 July 2021
100%
Domestic and stock
1 July 2021
100%
Local water utilities
1 July 2021
Hunter*
100%
General security
1 July 2021
100%
High security
1 July 2021
100%
Domestic and stock
1 July 2021
100%
Local water utilities
1 July 2021
Bega Brogo
40%
General security
1 July 2021
100%
High security
1 July 2021
100%
Domestic and stock
1 July 2021
100%
Local water utilities
1 July 2021
* Carryover water may also be available.
River valley | Allocations 2021-22 | Licence category | Date of last allocation increase |
Murray* | 10% | General security | 15 July 2021 |
97% | High security | 1 July 2021 | |
100% | Domestic and stock | 1 July 2021 | |
100% | Local water utilities | 1 July 2021 | |
Lower Darling* | 100% | General security | 1 July 2021 |
100% | High security | 1 July 2021 | |
100% | Domestic and stock | 1 July 2021 | |
100% | Local water utilities | 1 July 2021 | |
Murrumbidgee* | 50% | General security | 15 July 2021 |
95% | High security | 1 July 2021 | |
100% | Domestic and stock | 1 July 2021 | |
100% | Local water utilities | 1 July 2021 | |
Lachlan* | 11% | General security | 9 July 2021 |
100% | High security | 1 July 2021 | |
100% | Domestic and stock | 1 July 2021 | |
100% | Local water utilities | 1 July 2021 | |
Belubula* | 0% | General security | 1 July 2021 |
100% | High security | 1 July 2021 | |
100% | Domestic and stock | 1 July 2021 | |
Macquarie and Cudgegong* | 12% | General security | 12 July 2021 |
100% | High security | 1 July 2021 | |
100% | High security (sub categories) | 1 July 2021 | |
100% | Domestic and stock | 1 July 2021 | |
100% | Local water utilities | 1 July 2021 | |
Lower Namoi* | 9.8% | General security | 7 July 2021 |
100% | High security | 1 July 2021 | |
100% | High security (sub categories) | 1 July 2021 | |
100% | Domestic and stock | 1 July 2021 | |
100% | Local water utilities | 1 July 2021 | |
Upper Namoi* | 100% | General security | 1 July 2021 |
100% | High security | 1 July 2021 | |
100% | Domestic and stock | 1 July 2021 | |
100% | Local water utilities | 1 July 2021 | |
Peel | 67% | General security | 9 July 2021 |
100% | High security | 1 July 2021 | |
100% | Domestic and stock | 1 July 2021 | |
100% | Local water utilities | 1 July 2021 | |
Gwydir* | 11.1% | General security | 7 July 2021 |
100% | High security | 1 July 2021 | |
100% | Domestic and stock | 1 July 2021 | |
100% | Local water utilities | 1 July 2021 | |
NSW Border Rivers* | 100% | General security A Class | 27 July 2021 |
4.7% | General security B Class | 27 July 2021 | |
100% | High security | 1 July 2021 | |
100% | Domestic and stock | 1 July 2021 | |
100% | Local water utilities | 1 July 2021 | |
Richmond | 100% | General security | 1 July 2021 |
100% | High security | 1 July 2021 | |
100% | Domestic and stock | 1 July 2021 | |
100% | Local water utilities | 1 July 2021 | |
Paterson* | 100% | General security | 1 July 2021 |
100% | High security | 1 July 2021 | |
100% | Domestic and stock | 1 July 2021 | |
100% | Local water utilities | 1 July 2021 | |
Hunter* | 100% | General security | 1 July 2021 |
100% | High security | 1 July 2021 | |
100% | Domestic and stock | 1 July 2021 | |
100% | Local water utilities | 1 July 2021 | |
Bega Brogo | 40% | General security | 1 July 2021 |
100% | High security | 1 July 2021 | |
100% | Domestic and stock | 1 July 2021 | |
100% | Local water utilities | 1 July 2021 |
* Carryover water may also be available.
Current allocations - unregulated rivers
River valley
Current allocation (2020-21) water year
Licence category
Date of allocation
All unregulated river water sources*
Full allocations
All categories
1 July 2021
* Carryover water may also be available.
River valley | Current allocation (2020-21) water year | Licence category | Date of allocation |
All unregulated river water sources* | Full allocations | All categories | 1 July 2021 |
* Carryover water may also be available.
Current allocations - groundwater
River valley
Current allocation (2021-22) water year
Water source / licence category
Date of allocation
Eastern Recharge (NSW Great Artesian Basin)
38%
Aquifer access
1 July 2021
Peel Alluvium
83.8%
Aquifer (general security) access
9 July 2021
Murrumbidgee Unregulated and Alluvial (Gundagai Alluvial Groundwater Source)
98%
Aquifer (high security) access
1 July 2021
Lachlan Unregulated and Alluvial (Belubula Valley Alluvial Groundwater Source)
100%
Aquifer (high security) access
1 July 2021
Lower Lachlan Groundwater Source
100%
Aquifer access
1 July 2021
Lower Murrumbidgee (Deep)
60%
Aquifer access
1 July 2021
Macquarie Bogan Unregulated and Alluvial (Cudgegong Alluvial Groundwater Source)
100%
Aquifer (high security) access
1 July 2021
Namoi Unregulated and Alluvial (Manilla Alluvial Groundwater Sources)
100%
Aquifer (general security) access
1 July 2021
Upper Namoi Zone 1, Borambil Creek
230%
Aquifer access
1 July 2021
Upper Namoi Zone 2, Cox’s Creek (Mullaley to Boggabri)
100%
Aquifer access
1 July 2021
Upper Namoi Zone 5, Namoi Valley (Gin’s Leap to Narrabri)
100%
Aquifer access
1 July 2021
Upper Namoi Zone 8, Mooki Valley (Quirindi-Pine Ridge Road to Breeza)
100%
Aquifer access
1 July 2021
All other groundwater sources
100%
All other licence categories
1 July 2021
* Carryover water may also be available, according to water sharing plan.
River valley | Current allocation (2021-22) water year | Water source / licence category | Date of allocation |
Eastern Recharge (NSW Great Artesian Basin) | 38% | Aquifer access | 1 July 2021 |
Peel Alluvium | 83.8% | Aquifer (general security) access | 9 July 2021 |
Murrumbidgee Unregulated and Alluvial (Gundagai Alluvial Groundwater Source) | 98% | Aquifer (high security) access | 1 July 2021 |
Lachlan Unregulated and Alluvial (Belubula Valley Alluvial Groundwater Source) | 100% | Aquifer (high security) access | 1 July 2021 |
Lower Lachlan Groundwater Source | 100% | Aquifer access | 1 July 2021 |
Lower Murrumbidgee (Deep) | 60% | Aquifer access | 1 July 2021 |
Macquarie Bogan Unregulated and Alluvial (Cudgegong Alluvial Groundwater Source) | 100% | Aquifer (high security) access | 1 July 2021 |
Namoi Unregulated and Alluvial (Manilla Alluvial Groundwater Sources) | 100% | Aquifer (general security) access | 1 July 2021 |
Upper Namoi Zone 1, Borambil Creek | 230% | Aquifer access | 1 July 2021 |
Upper Namoi Zone 2, Cox’s Creek (Mullaley to Boggabri) | 100% | Aquifer access | 1 July 2021 |
Upper Namoi Zone 5, Namoi Valley (Gin’s Leap to Narrabri) | 100% | Aquifer access | 1 July 2021 |
Upper Namoi Zone 8, Mooki Valley (Quirindi-Pine Ridge Road to Breeza) | 100% | Aquifer access | 1 July 2021 |
All other groundwater sources | 100% | All other licence categories | 1 July 2021 |
* Carryover water may also be available, according to water sharing plan.