Environmental Flows - The ACT context

The environmental flows that are recommended for each of our water supply catchments are based on the extensive research and monitoring of environmental flows in our river systems, and water supply operations must be undertaken in accordance with ‘Licence to Take Water’ under the Water Resources Act 1998 (the Licence) that ACTEW hold with the Department of Territory and Municipal Services (TAMS). These are regulated through the Environmental Flow Guidelines. The ACT Government first developed Environmental Flow Guidelines in 1999, which were revised in 2006.

The Environmental Flow Guidelines 2006 recognise that during dry times when Canberra’s population faces Water Restrictions it is appropriate that environmental flows also be reduced. Special rules for drought periods have been specified, maintaining flows at a minimal level while providing water for domestic consumption.

Environmental flows are released from all four of Canberra’s water supply reservoirs based on hydrological records. In the Cotter catchment these are the Corin, Bendora and Cotter reservoirs. In the Googong catchment is the Googong reservoir.