Hydrological models tell us what will happen to rivers and dams under different rainfall and climate conditions. The models assist in environmental, agricultural, and utility water management.
We are working to improve hydrological modelling systems. We are working with state and territory governments to do this.
The National Hydrological Modelling Strategy 2022 to 2027 (NHMS) details our plans for this work. It steps out how we will secure Australia’s hydrological modelling future.
The National Hydrological Modelling Strategy
The Council of Australian Governments adopted the first NHMS in 2008. This was to improve planning and management for our limited water resources. The National Water Reform Committee refreshed the NHMS in 2018.
In 2021 an independent report suggested changes to NHMS. The updated strategy aims to lead consistent approaches to hydrological modelling across Australia.
Objectives
The objectives for the NHMS are:
- Using national collaborations to achieve modelling capability, which supports best practice water policy, planning and management in Australia.
- Supporting the modelling community to meet Australian governments, industry and community priorities.
- Engaging modelling experts while encouraging and developing modelling skills.
- Ensuring modelling is able to meet the needs of Australians governments, industry and communities.
- Using the best available climate, water and water-related data and science.
- Supporting time and fund investments to provide stable and useful modelling capability.
- Supporting international outreach of Australia’s modelling capability.
A detailed version of the objectives can be found in the full strategy document.
Download
National Hydrological Modelling Strategy and High-Level Implementation Plan (2022) (PDF 559 KB)
National Hydrological Modelling Strategy and High-Level Implementation Plan (2022) (DOCX 318 KB)
Final Report - Advice to The National Water Reform Committee about the National Hydrological Modelling Strategy (2021) (PDF 943 KB)
Final Report - Advice to The National Water Reform Committee about the National Hydrological Modelling Strategy (2021) (DOCX 995 KB)
If you have difficulty accessing this file, visit web accessibility for assistance.
Australia’s national hydrological modelling platform
Source Integrated Modelling System (Source) is Australia’s national hydrological modelling platform. eWater Ltd initially developed and has maintained Source for more than 20 years. eWater is a not-for-profit company owned by all Australian governments.
The Murray-Darling Basin Authority, state governments, water utilities and others use Source models. These models help determine water allocations, sustainable diversion limits, water resource plans and more.
Source modelling capabilities
- Analysis of water supply and demand balances, including agricultural, hydropower, urban, industrial and environmental demands
- Water quality analysis based on catchment land-use
- Reservoir and river operations, including for low flow events, high flow events and salt loads
- Urban water planning, including analysis of different supply options
- Groundwater-surface water interactions
Get involved
If you are a hydrological modeller, connect through:
- eWater’s Community of Practice
- New South Wales’s Water Modelling & Monitoring Hub
- Queensland Water Modelling Network
- Victoria’s Hydrological Modelling Community
Training
Australia needs more people who can use or develop hydrological models.
Read more about Source training courses through eWater Academy.
Hydrological modelling courses are also available at universities across Australia.