Australian Natural Resources Atlas

Natural Resource Topics

Water resources - Overview - New South Wales

Location map of Lower Namoi Alluvium

Groundwater Management Unit: Lower Namoi Alluvium

Introduction

This large GMA comprises the total area of unconsolidated deposits of Quaternary and Tertiary age in the Namoi River Valley downstream of Narrabri. The downstream limit of this alluvial body is poorly defined, and is probably not continuous into the Barwon-Darling system at anything but shallow depths. The western (downstream) part of the GMU is beyond the downstream limit of low salinity water, and some parts of the GMU contain essentially brackish to saline water. The northern and southern boundaries of the GMU are marked by the boundaries of the Namoi Valley alluvium, (in part grading into the alluviual deposits of the Gwydir River to the north) and the upstream boundary is an administrative boundary with the Upper Namoi GMU at Narrabri. In addition to extensive use for irrigation of crops (mainly cotton) there is a significant usage for town water supplies for Narrabri and Wee Waa.

Vital Statistics:

Area: 5,113 Km2
Total water allocated: no data
Total water consumed: 87,698 ML/yr
Average salinity: 800 mg/l
Sustainable yield: 95,000 ML/yr
Depth to top of aquifier: 10 m

Further Information

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