NSW Strategic Water Information and Monitoring Plan
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NSW strategic water information and monitoring plan Water inventory and observation networks in New South Wales IMPORTANT NOTE During the preparation of this report, the following administrative changes occurred in the New South Wales Government: the Department of Water and Energy (DWE) was abolished and the functions relating to the administration of water legislation transferred to the Office of Water within the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (DECCW), previously the Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC). The energy functions of DWE were transferred to the newly created Industry and Investment NSW, previously the Department of Primary Industries (DPI). References throughout this report are to the former agencies. Publisher NSW Office of Water Level 17, 227 Elizabeth Street GPO Box 3889 Sydney NSW 2001 T 02 8281 7777 F 02 8281 7799 [email protected] www.water.nsw.gov.au NSW strategic water information and monitoring plan. Water inventory and observation networks in New South Wales December 2009 ISBN 978 1 921546 94 5 Related publication NSW strategic water information and monitoring plan: Final report Published in December 2009 ISBN 978 1 921546 95 2 Acknowledgements Contributing agencies: NSW Office of Water (the Office), formerly Department of Water and Energy (DWE), Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (DECCW), formerly Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC), Industry & Investment NSW, formerly Forests NSW in Department of Primary Industry (DPI), Sydney Catchment Authority This publication may be cited as: Malone D., Torrible L., Hayes J., 2009, NSW strategic water information and monitoring plan: Water inventory and observation networks in New South Wales, NSW Office of Water, Sydney. © State of New South Wales through the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, 2009 This work may be freely reproduced and distributed for most purposes, however some restrictions apply. Contact the Department of Water and Energy for copyright information. Disclaimer: While every reasonable effort has been made to ensure that this document is correct at the time of publication, the State of New South Wales, its agents and employees, disclaim any and all liability to any person in respect of anything or the consequences of anything done or omitted to be done in reliance upon the whole or any part of this document. NOW 09_266 NSW strategic water information and monitoring plan: Water inventory and observation networks in New South Wales Contents Water inventory and observation networks ........................................................................................... 1 Background ................................................................................................................................................. 1 Introduction.................................................................................................................................................. 2 Water data in NSW................................................................................................................................ 3 Catchment Management Authorities ....................................................................................................... 16 Federal agencies....................................................................................................................................... 17 Private companies .................................................................................................................................... 22 Energy companies .................................................................................................................................... 22 Country Water ........................................................................................................................................... 22 Irrigation companies.................................................................................................................................. 23 Irrigation corporations ............................................................................................................................... 25 Councils..................................................................................................................................................... 26 Monitoring inventory ............................................................................................................................ 29 Introduction................................................................................................................................................ 29 Water monitoring....................................................................................................................................... 31 Technical Network Design........................................................................................................................ 40 How much surface water does NSW have? ...........................................................................................45 How much groundwater does NSW have?.............................................................................................47 Water monitoring sites in NSW ................................................................................................................ 49 Information systems.................................................................................................................................. 54 Data currency............................................................................................................................................ 63 Bibliography......................................................................................................................................... 65 Appendix 1........................................................................................................................................... 66 Sampled detailed water data inventory from DWE................................................................................. 66 Surface water sites.................................................................................................................................... 67 i | NSW Government, December 2009 NSW strategic water information and monitoring plan: Water inventory and observation networks in New South Wales Tables Table 1: NSW Flood Warning Network......................................................................................... 22 Table 2: List of NSW Councils ...................................................................................................... 27 Table 3: Summary of site information requirements ..................................................................... 29 Table 4: Sample network classification questions for inventory ................................................... 30 Table 5: World-wide flow variability............................................................................................... 32 Table 6: Water data uses.............................................................................................................. 37 Table 7: WMO Minimum Network Density (km2 per station) ........................................................ 41 Table 8: Monitoring inventory response summary........................................................................ 50 Table 9: Age of Surface Water Network on DWE’s archive.......................................................... 51 Table 10: Information systems summary........................................................................................ 54 Table 11: Currency of data collection systems ............................................................................... 63 Figures Figure 1: Map of Newcastle area showing area of operation, major urban areas and major water sources.................................................................................................................. 12 Figure 2: MDBC data requirements ............................................................................................... 20 Figure 3: Murrumbidgee irrigation areas and districts.................................................................... 25 Figure 4: Named council locations ................................................................................................. 28 Figure 5: Elements of water monitoring ......................................................................................... 34 Figure 6: Surface Water Management Areas in NSW ................................................................... 47 Figure 7: DWE GW monitoring sites .............................................................................................. 52 Figure 8: DWE water quality monitoring sites ................................................................................ 53 Figure 9: Meteorological monitoring NSW ..................................................................................... 54 Figure 10: DWE’s water data systems ............................................................................................. 57 Figure 11: HydroTel real-time data delivery system ........................................................................ 58 Figure 12: Water accounting system relational diagram.................................................................. 60 ii | NSW Government, December 2009 NSW strategic water information and monitoring plan: Water inventory