SA: Irrigators to get little water in SA

AAP General News (Australia)
04-16-2008
SA: Irrigators to get little water in SA

ADELAIDE, April 16 AAP - Irrigators along the Murray River in South Australia may only
get four per cent of their normal water allocations from July 1, because of the ongoing
drought.

River Murray Minister Karlene Maywald said worsening conditions in the Murray-Darling
Basin would impact on allocations at the beginning of the new water year.

"The opening allocation will depend on rainfall in the catchment between now and the
end of the water year," Ms Maywald said.

Inflows to the Murray during March were just 62 gigalitres, compared with the average
of about 200 gigalitres.

Ms Maywald said since the end of February there had been no improvement in the amount
of water available to South Australia.

"This is due to the very hot and dry conditions experienced during March, which resulted
in very low inflows and high water loss, increased drawdown and evaporation," she said.

The minister said allocations for irrigators to the end of June would remain set at 32 per cent.

AAP tjd/jm/bwl

KEYWORD: MURRAY SA

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