Estimating unmetered stock and domestic water use

Abstract

Water accounts present information on the stores and movement of water, including the volume of water diverted for consumptive use. Water extracted directly by water users to meet their stock and domestic water requirements is not metered in Australia and as a result, estimates are used to quantify this component in the water accounts and for other purposes. Two approaches to estimate the water extracted for stock and domestic purposes are identified: 1. An estimate of the number of households and stock that rely on self extracted water is multiplied by their expected water requirements. 2. The number and volume of stock and domestic licenses issued by the water authorities to divert water f..