Water resource modelling

Water resource modelling is used to figure out how much water can be taken from a water source without harming it.

It also shows how:

• reliable the water supply is
• much water can be allocated for different purposes.

The modelling process can be simple or complex depending on the type of water source and the information needed.

The models combine different information to predict how changes like climate, land use, and water management will affect the water levels and flow.

How they're used

In some areas like the Daly and Roper river catchments and Berry Springs, advanced models are used.

These models represent many processes in the catchment to make informed decisions about water allocation and planning.

These include:

• catchment rainfall runoff
• rainfall infiltrating into the soil and down into groundwater
• flow in the creeks and rivers
• river losses into the aquifer
• groundwater discharge into the river
• water extractions from the river and from the aquifer.