RIVER Murray water allocations for South Australian irrigators have been increased with farmers now likely to get almost their full entitlements.
Allocations have been increased to 38 per cent, but SA government officials say it's now likely irrigators will get 97 per cent across the full financial year.
The SA government's water delivery manager Jarrod Eaton says the increase reflects the continued improvements in water conditions across the River Murray system.
"Rainfall across key catchment areas has helped to improve conditions across the basin leading to an increase in water availability for South Australian irrigators," Mr Eaton said.
"Based on climate conditions over the last 30 years and current water resource conditions, water availability projections indicate that under very dry conditions allocations are likely to get to at least 97 per cent - which is a positive sign for water users."
Bureau of Meteorology data shows basin rainfall remained below average for June but the volume of water in Murray-Darling Basin storages increased slightly, up to 38 per cent of capacity.
Mr Eaton said officials would continue to monitor the bureau's long-term weather outlook and issue revised statements twice a month while irrigation allocations remained below 100 per cent.
Australian Associated Press
SINCE 2012 and the introduction of the Murray Darling Basin Plan 100 per cent high security irrigation allocations have been declared in South Australia every year.
Since 1975-76 in 82pc of years (or 31 out of 38 years) 100pc allocations have been available to SA.
Class 3 water access entitlements have high reliability and are likely to receive a 100pc allocation if South Australia's full "state entitlement flow" of 1850 gigalitres is received.
The Land
