The Water Account, Australia (WAA) is an environmental-economic account produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), which is compiled, as far as possible, in accordance with the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA) and the SEEA-Water frameworks. It includes water supply and use tables for both physical volumes and monetary values.
The following section outlines the broad concepts, sources, and methods for the Water Account.
The WAA was developed using the SEEA and the SEEA-Water frameworks. SEEA was first published by the United Nations in 1993 and was elevated to an international statistical standard in 2012. The SEEA framework extends the boundaries of the System of National Accounts (SNA) framework to include environmental resources, which occur outside the economic production boundaries that are measured by the SNA.
Water supply and use tables describe water flows from the environment to the economy, within the economy, and from the economy to the environment (SEEA-Water, 2012, S. 3.1). This includes:
The monetary supply and use tables present aggregates of monetary data (dollars) in terms of the supply and use of water within the Australian economy. Monetary supply and use tables illustrate the economic transactions associated with the use of distributed and reuse water and the provision of sewerage, drainage and wastewater services.
Key concepts are listed below:
Refers to the movement of water from the environment into the economy, either permanently or temporarily. SEEA identifies the environment as the supplier and the industry/household as the user (SEEA-Water, S 3.6). Extracted water can be further classified into three main sources:
Refers to water flows from one user (or supplier) to another user after extraction. This includes the supply and use of potable and non-potable water from one economic unit to another (SEEA-Water, 2012 S 3.31). In the WAA, distribution losses are recorded as water use by the industry supplying the water (usually the Water supply, sewerage and drainage services industry).
Water transferred/delivered from one water supplier/provider to another water supplier/provider. This distinction is required to ensure the same volume of water is not counted twice (in the physical supply and use tables) as the water moves through the economy; however, these exchanges are valued in the monetary tables.
Represents water that has been used by an economic unit or household, and then transferred between economic units. The industry collecting wastewater is a “user” in the physical supply and use tables, while in the monetary tables that industry is a “supplier” of sewerage and wastewater services (SEEA-Water S 3.9). The most commonly understood form of wastewater is sewage; however, non-sewage wastewater products are also included (SEEA-Water, 2012, S 3.12). Stormwater and drainage water are not currently included in the supply and use tables in the WSS, as much of this is simply redirected into nearby water systems. However, in Australia, there is some infiltration of stormwater into sewerage systems in many regions, so naturally some stormwater is included in the wastewater estimates.
Represents the transformation of wastewater into another economic product that is distributed throughout the economy (SEEA-Water, 2012, S 3.12). In the WAA this includes the transformation of stormwater and drainage water.
Represents the flows of water from industries and households to the environment. This excludes flows of water to wastewater treatment facilities but includes flows of water from treatment facilities directly to the environment. The SEEA records return flows as use by the environment (SEEA-Water, 2012, S 3.15).
Water consumption refers to the amount of water that is lost by the economy during use, in the sense that the water has entered the economy but has not returned to the environment. Water is instead incorporated into products, evaporated, transpired by plants or simply consumed by households or livestock. Water consumption is equal to the the difference between water use and water supply. The concept of water consumption used in SEEA-Water is consistent with the hydrological concept. It differs, however, from the concept of consumption that is used in the National Accounts, which instead refers to water use (SEEA-Water, 2012, S 3.44).
The WAA uses the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) for its industry classification. The ANZSIC is implemented for all ABS industry-classified statistics and is a fundamentally important reference for organisations wishing to interpret these statistics or to compile their own statistics on a comparable basis.
In the monetary account, this refers to final consumption expenditure by households, or expenditure incurred by resident households on the consumption of water and related services (including sewerage services).
Social benefits paid in kind consist of goods and services provided to households by government and private, non-market producers (non-profit institutions serving households, or NPISHs), either free or at prices that are not economically significant (SNA, 2008, S 8.141).
Compulsory, unrequited payments, in cash or in kind, made by institutional units to government units (SNA, 2008, S 7.71).
Current unrequited payments that government units, including non-resident government units, make to enterprises on the basis of the levels of their production activities or quantities or values of the goods or services that they produce (SNA, 2008, S 7.98).
Exports of goods and services consist of sales, barter, or gifts or grants, of goods and services from residents to non-residents (SNA 1993, S 14.88).
Imports of goods and services consist of sales, barter, or gifts or grants, of goods and services from non-residents to residents (SNA 1993, S 14.88).
Description: the WSSS collection is an ABS census of all known water and wastewater suppliers/utilities across Australia. It collects physical and monetary data on water supply, water treatment, and return flows of water to the environment.
Frequency: annual, financial year.
Series used: 2014-15 to 2020-21 inclusive.
Geography: state/territory and national.
Key data used:
Water supply, sewerage and drainage services industry estimates for
The WSSS is used as a control total for use of distributed and reuse water by industries; it also sets the unit price for Agriculture water use.
Description: the EWES is an ABS survey conducted every three years, with the EIS conducted in the intervening two years. The EWES provides a more comprehensive range of data across industries, as well as providing benchmark estimates for selected data items. The EWES has a larger sample size than the EIS, therefore, some businesses/organisations selected for the EWES may not be selected for the EIS.
Frequency: triennial EWES and EIS with a financial year reference period.
Series used: 2014-15 and 2017-18 for EWES; 2015-16, 2016-17, 2018-19, 2019-20, and 2020-21 for EIS.
Geography: state/territory and national (EWES); national only (EIS).
Key data used:
Self-extracted use, distributed supply, reuse supply, and return flows data for the following industries:
Used to disaggregate division level use data from the WSSS collection.
Price paid for distributed and reuse water for the following industries:
Expenditure of sewerage and wastewater services use for the following industries:
Description: the REACS is run annually by the ABS in between the five-yearly Agricultural census. The scope of the REACS and Agricultural census collection is all businesses operating agricultural land in Australia who have an estimated value of agricultural operations (EVAO) of $40,000 or greater.
Frequency: REACS is run annually in the years between the five yearly Agricultural census. The last Agricultural census reference period was 2020-21.
Series used: 2014-15, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, and 2019-20, for REACS; 2015-16 and 2020-21 for Agricultural census.
Geography: state/territory and national
Key data used:
Note: the agricultural water use data presented in this publication is different to the data presented in the ABS publication Water Use on Australian Farms (WUOAF). This is because: (a) the multiple data sources used for the WAA compilation, compared to the single source of ABS survey data (REACS) used to produce WUOAF; (b) the WUOAF publication presents an ‘activity view’ of agriculture – therefore, its estimates of water use are slightly different to the ‘industry view’ estimates presented in the physical water supply and use tables in WAA; and (c) the scope of WUOAF is all businesses operating agricultural land in Australia who have an estimated value of agricultural operations (EVAO) of $40,000 or greater, while the WAA includes all agricultural businesses.
The Agriculture ‘industry' view presented in WAA includes only agricultural activity that occurs in businesses where the primary income-producing activity (i.e. the activity with value added that exceeds the value added of any other activity carried out by the same business) of the business is agricultural production.
Also note that losses from the distribution system for agriculture (e.g. evaporation and seepage from irrigation channels) are attributed to the Water supply industry rather than the Agriculture industry in WAA.
Description: contains state and territory estimates of gross domestic product (referred to as gross state product) and its components.
Frequency: annual.
Series used: Industry Gross Value Added (GVA): Chain volume measures, Industry Gross Value Added 2014-15 to 2020-21.
Geography: state/territory.
Key data used:
Description: the Bureau of Meteorology’s Urban National Performance Reports benchmark the pricing and service quality of Australian urban water utilities. Indicators include water resource supply and usage, financial operations, bills and pricing, assets, water quality compliance and customer performance. The reports are published annually and prepared independently by the Bureau of Meteorology, State and Territory governments, and the Water Services Association of Australia; the reports support commitments under the National Water Initiative.
Frequency: annual
Series used: 2014-15 to 2020-21
Geography: business unit record level
Key data used: estimation of household price of water
Summary indicators: in addition to the data that feeds into the supply and use data section, the summary tables include data to assist users in contextualising the presented information. The sources for these data items are noted below.
Description: this quarterly release contains the most recent estimates of the resident population (ERP) of Australia and the states and territories based on the results of the 2021 Census of Population and Housing held on 9 August 2021, and the addition of quarterly components of population growth. The ABS has used the 2021 Census to produce final rebased estimates of the resident population. This release contains the latest available statistics on births, deaths (including infant deaths) and overseas and interstate migration.
Frequency: quarterly
Series used: June 2015 to June 2021
Geography: state/territory and national
Key data used: estimated residential population as of end of financial year.
Description: the latest household estimates and projections in this publication cover the period 2016 to 2041 for Australia, the states and territories, capital cities and rest of state/territory regions. The projections of households, families and persons by living arrangement are based on Series I, which assumes no change in 2016 living arrangement propensity.
Frequency: every 5 years with annual estimates
Series used: 2016 to 2041 publication for 2015-16 to 2018-19; 2011 to 2036 publication for 2014-15.
Geography: state/territory and national
Key data used: estimate of household numbers.
Description: provides climate indicators available for Australia, states and territories as well as other geographies.
Frequency: monthly
Series used: financial years - 2014-15 to 2020-21
Geography: state/territory and national
Key data used: area-averaged rainfall by state/territory and national.
Description: a dashboard featuring information on 305 major water storages around Australia
Frequency: daily
Series used: 30 June 2015 to 30 June 2021
Geography: state/territory and national
Key data used: estimates of accessible volume in major dam storages as at end of financial year.
Description: the VACP is run annually by the ABS. It applies a unit price to the agricultural commodity volume estimates produced by REACS to produce a valuation of all produced agricultural commodities.
Frequency: VACP is run annually.
Series used: 2014-15 to 2020-21
Geography: state/territory and national
Key data used:
The methods used to compile the data in the WAA have been split into four broad groups that align with the data cubes published in this account:
All data items in the WSSDS industry highlights data cube were sourced directly from the WSSS collection with no notable methodological adjustments.
The Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) is the standard of classification used in Australia and New Zealand for the collection, compilation, and publication of statistics by industry.
A geologic formation which is capable of holding water and through which water can percolate. Aquifers are capable of yielding quantities of groundwater for economic activities.
Water supplied by a water provider/supplier/utility to another water provider/supplier/utility. Also known as "wholesale" water (as opposed to "retail" water).
The area of land determined by topographic features, within which rainfall will contribute to run-off at a particular point. The catchment for a major river and its tributaries is usually referred to as a river basin.
Estimates are valued at the prices of the period to which the observation relates. For example, estimates for 2017-18 are valued using 2017-18 prices. This contrasts to chain volume measures where the prices used in valuation refer to the prices of the previous year.
Annually-reweighted chain Laspeyres volume indexes referenced to the current price values in a chosen reference year (i.e. the year when the quarterly chain volume measures sum to the current price annual values). Chain Laspeyres volume measures are compiled by linking together (compounding) movements in volumes, calculated using the average prices of the previous financial year, and applying the compounded movements to the current price estimates of the reference year.
Water supplied to a user including through a natural (e.g. river) or non-natural network (e.g. piped or open channel), and where an economic transaction has occurred for the exchange of this water. The majority of distributed water is supplied by the Water supply, sewerage and drainage services industry (ANZSIC Division 28). The water supply component consists of units mainly engaged in storage, purification or distribution of water by pipeline or carrier. It may also include the operation of irrigation systems that supply water to a farm and the supply of steam and hot water. Distributed water can include potable, mains and raw water but does not include reuse or bulk water.
Exports of goods and services consist of sales, barter, or gifts or grants, of goods and services from residents to non-residents.
One thousand million litres, or 1,000,000,000 litres. 1 Gigalitre = 1,000,000 cubic metres.
The gross value of commodities produced. It is the value placed on recorded production at the wholesale prices realised in the market place.
Water supplied to other water providers and customers, plus losses, own use by water providers and environmental flows.
Water found underground in the cracks and spaces in soil, sand and rock. It is stored in and moves slowly through geologic formations of soil, sand and rocks called aquifers.
The value of an industry's output at basic prices, minus the value of goods and services consumed as inputs during the process of production. Basic prices valuation of output removes the distortion caused by variations in commodity taxes and subsidies across the output of individual industries.
Imports of goods and services consist of sales, barter, or gifts or grants, of goods and services from non-residents to residents.
Water artificially applied to soils (i.e. does not include precipitation/rainfall).
One thousand litres (1,000 litres). 1 kilolitre = 1 cubic metre.
One million litres (1,000,000 litres). 1 megalitre = 1,000 cubic metres.
In the physical water supply and use tables, "Other industries" refers to the following list of industries, according to the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC):
An organisation that supplies water but whose main activity is in an industry other than the Water supply, sewerage and drainage services industry (e.g. Mining or Manufacturing).
Water that is suitable for human consumption (e.g. drinking water).
The amount paid by the purchaser, excluding any tax deductible by the purchaser, in order to take delivery of a unit of a good or service at the time and place required by the purchaser. The purchaser’s price of a good includes any transport charges paid separately by the purchaser to take delivery at the required time and place.
Water extracted from the environment that has not been treated.
Potable or non-potable water supplied by a water supplier to customers not classified as water suppliers.
Return flows represent the flows of water from industries and households to the environment. This excludes flows of water from industries and households to wastewater treatment facilities but includes flows of water from treatment facilities directly to the environment. The SEEA records this as use by the environment.
Wastewater (including sewage) that is collected, on-supplied and used again by other businesses/households. It may have been treated to some extent. Reuse water is also known as recycled water or effluent re-use.
Revenue from 'pay for use' and base rate charges (i.e. volumetric and fixed rates) for the provision of wastewater. It also includes revenue generated from trade waste charges.
Revenue from the provision of water supply services to residential and non-residential properties. Also includes revenue generated from bulk supply or bulk sale of potable and non-potable/raw water, treated wastewater or reuse water and desalinated water.
A process where salt is removed from water with a high salt content (usually seawater but sometimes other brackish water) to make it suitable for domestic or industrial use.
Water extracted directly from the environment for use (including surface water, groundwater and other bodies) for the purpose of supplying to others (including other water suppliers) and/or for own use. It also includes water produced from salt water desalination.
Infrastructure (e.g. pipe and drains) used to remove sewage (wastewater).
Social transfers in kind consist of good and services provided to households by government and private, non-market producers free or at prices that are not economically significant.
Current unrequited payments that government units, including non-resident government units, make to enterprises based on the levels of their production activities or quantities or values of the goods or services that they produce.
Physical water supply and use tables which provide information on the volumes of water extracted, supplied within the economy and discharged back into the environment by economic activity and households.
Water on the surface of continents such as in a river, lake, wetland, ice or snow. This excludes sea water.
A framework used to develop environmental accounts by integrating environmental information into an accounting framework. The primary manual is the SEEA Central Framework (SEEA-CF) which provides the conceptual basis for describing the interrelationship between the natural environment and the economy.
An elaboration of the SEEA framework which provides a conceptual framework for organising hydrological and economic information in a coherent and consistent framework. It is consistent with SEEA-CF.
An international framework which can be used to develop a comprehensive, consistent and flexible set of macro-economic accounts. The latest edition is the 2008 SNA.
Compulsory, unrequited payments, in cash or in kind, made by institutional units to government units.
Any water that has been used by an economic unit or household, and then transferred between economic units, usually for treatment. The most commonly understood form of wastewater is sewage; however, non-sewage wastewater products are also included (for example, untreated effluent and trade waste).
The concept of water consumption provides an indication of the amount of water that is lost by the economy during use, in the sense that the water has entered the economy but has not returned to the environment directly. Water is instead incorporated into products, evaporated, transpired by plants or simply consumed by households or livestock. The difference between water use and water supply is referred to as water consumption. The concept of water consumption that is used in SEEA-Water is consistent with the hydrological concept. It differs, however, from the concept of consumption that is used in the national accounts, which instead refers to water use.
Water intensity is referred to as the ratio of physical flow to an economic aggregate (for example, ML/$m GVA) while water productivity represents the ratio of economic aggregate to physical flow (for example, $m GVA/ML). Water intensity is the inverse of water productivity.
Water that enters the water distribution system of a water provider but does not reach the end users/customers. Water losses can be attributed to seepage, leakage, evaporation (excluding evaporation from water storages), meter inaccuracies and theft.
A business or organisation that provides a reticulated water supply, irrigation water, reuse/recycle water and/or bulk water supply service. Water providers may be government or private and often operate water storage, purification and supply services. They may also provide sewerage or drainage services. Commonly referred to as a water utility or water supplier.
The provision of reticulated water supply (including desalinated water), irrigation water, recycled (reuse) water, bulk and/or retail water supply service.
Distributed water use plus self-extracted water use plus reuse water use. Note that this definition differs to the Water consumption definition in that it is a gross measure, rather than netting out the volumes of water in return flows, wastewater supply or water supplied to other users.
| $ | dollar |
| $m | million dollars |
| % | per cent |
| ABS | Australian Bureau of Statistics |
| ACT | Australian Capital Territory |
| ANZSIC | Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (2006 edition) |
| ASGS | Australian Statistical Geography Standard |
| Aust. | Australia |
| BoM | Bureau of Meteorology (Commonwealth) |
| cat. | catalogue |
| EIS | Environmental Indicators Survey |
| EVAO | Estimated Value of Agricultural Operations |
| EWES | Energy, Water and Environment Survey |
| GL | gigalitre |
| GV | Gross Value |
| GVA | Gross Value added |
| GVIAP | Gross Value of Irrigated Agricultural Production |
| IGVA | Industry Gross Value Added |
| kL | kilolitre |
| ML | megalitre |
| mm | millimetre |
| na | not available |
| no. | number |
| np | not available for publication |
| NSW | New South Wales |
| NT | Northern Territory |
| Qld | Queensland |
| REACS | Rural Environment and Agricultural Commodities Survey |
| SA | South Australia |
| SEEA | System of Environmental Economic Accounting |
| SEEA-Water | System of Environmental Economic Accounting for Water |
| SNA | System of National Accounts |
| Tas. | Tasmania |
| UN | United Nations |
| VACP | Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced |
| Vic. | Victoria |
| WA | Western Australia |
| WAA | Water Account, Australia |
| WSSS | Water Supply and Sewerage Services Survey |