The 2023 water use results showed a lower-than-average rainfall, meaning that mining companies did not discharge water into the Hunter River System and were conserving their stored water.

252 GL of water entered the Hunter River System, and 69% remained.

Industry used 2.7% of the water, whereas farmers, businesses, and residents used 29% of the water that entered the system.

The majority of water used by industry was sourced from onsite rainfall and runoff (32%) or deep aquifers (34%), which are of limited use to other water users due to their high salinity.