The 2024 water use results showed that there was slightly higher than average rainfall, with 349 GL of water entering the Hunter River System. 

76% of the water that entered the system remained in the river. 

The mining industry used 2.6% of the water from the river, whereas farmers, businesses, and residents used 22% of the water that entered the system.

The majority of water used by the mining industry was sourced from onsite rainfall and runoff (42%) or deep aquifers (26%) that have limited use to other water users due to the high salinity. 

Upper Hunter mines reused 41% of the water onsite and discharged 2.6 GL of water back into the river system.