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Hydrological Services Program

The Hydrological Services Program is undergoing a major transformation as a result of the Bureau of Meteorology's expanded water information role. The Australian Government's $12.9b 'Water for the Future' program announced in April 2008, aims to secure the long term water supply of all Australians. This investment includes $450 million for the 'Improving Water Information Program' administered by the Bureau and backed by the Commonwealth Water Act 2007. Hence functions within the Hydrological Services Program have expanded to include a set of new statutory water information responsibilities:

  • Issuing national water information standards
  • Collecting and publishing water information
  • Conducting regular national water resources assessments
  • Publishing an annual National Water Account
  • Providing regular water availability forecasts
  • Giving advice on matters relating to water information
  • Enhancing understanding of Australia's water resources

The previous components of the Hydrological Services Program, the hydrometeorological advisory service, flood warning services, and water resources assessment, will be incorporated into our broadened water information role.

All components of the Hydrological Services program depend heavily on the basic national meteorological observation networks, and the flood forecasting and warning service also operates a special purpose network of rainfall and river level stations in cooperation with State and Local Government agencies. Soon the amount of data will significantly increase as the Bureau establishes systems to receive water data from various agencies and other sources. Successful delivery of the services under this program will continue to be heavily dependent on the cooperation with State and Territory water and emergency service authorities, Local Government agencies and many other stakeholders.

Integrating this new water information role into our established functions and arrangements is well underway. The significant increase in the availability of water information will soon be reflected in changes to these Hydrological Services Program web pages.