Know your water

Water is the Territory’s most vital resource. Understanding where water comes from, how it moves through landscapes and how it is managed for generations to come helps us all to manage our water responsibly.

Know your groundwater

Most NT towns and communities run on groundwater – water stored in underground rock and sediment layers called aquifers. From Darwin to Alice Springs to remote communities, groundwater is the hidden lifeline of the Territory.

Key facts:

• Groundwater is recharged by seasonal rainfall soaking through the soil.
• The NT Government monitors and manages groundwater through a licensing system.

For more information, get the groundwater fact sheet PDF (9.3 MB).

To find out more about groundwater, go to the Northern Territory Government website.

Know your surface water

Rivers, billabongs, wetlands and floodplains make the Territory one of Australia’s most spectacular water landscapes. Surface water is visible, dramatic and deeply seasonal – driven by monsoons in the north and rare but significant rain events in the centre.

Key facts:

• The NT has some of Australia’s least-modified river systems.
• Surface water and groundwater are connected — they exchange water seasonally.
• Wetlands like Kakadu are internationally significant for biodiversity and culture.

For more information, get the surface water fact sheet PDF (4.0 MB).

To find out more about surface water, go to the Northern Territory Government website.

Know your water cycle

The water cycle connects everything — it’s the system that moves water from sky to earth to underground and back again. In the Territory, this cycle plays out across two dramatically different landscapes, each with its own rhythms and characteristics.

Key facts:

• The water cycle includes evaporation, condensation, precipitation, runoff, infiltration and transpiration.
• The Top End’s monsoon drives a rapid, intense cycle. The Arid Region operates on a slower, more unpredictable rhythm.
• Understanding the water cycle is fundamental to sustainable water.

For more information, get the water cycle fact sheet PDF (11.4 MB).