The NT Government's water assessment director, Des Yin Foo says a plan is in place to sustain the Katherine region's many bores, despite the poor wet season.
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While he likens the lack of rain to an "extreme event", he says it is not time to panic.
"For the Katherine area it is not as concerning as areas such as Darwin, which is facing serious concerns on ground water levels," Mr Yin Foo said.
"Katherine is not effected in the same way as other Top End places, which rely on yearly rainfall. We have the advantage of an accumulation of about 20 years of good rain.
"We have had a few really high rainfalls in Katherine and it gets all soaked up like a sponge and the system releases a certain amount of water as needed."
And with the dry season fast approaching, it is unlikely much more will be recorded.
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Mr Yin Foo, who has worked for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources since 1980, has, for the past 10 years, focused on the Katherine and Daley area.
Undertaking ongoing scientific work to develop knowledge around what sustains water systems, he knows how to manage stress on the Katherine River.
Last week, the team completed a round of water level assessments on bores in the region.
Despite little recharge this season, bore levels are still above what was seen in 1990.
And while the message is always one of water conservation, especially in Katherine, the only town in Australia on water restrictions due to PFAS contamination, the stored ground water is a lifeboat for those who rely on bores.
Thanks to the Katherine Tindall Limestone Water Allocation Plan, licence holders and other people who use bores do not need to worry.
"We have a plan, and we can control usage," Mr Yin Foo said.
The plan ensures licence holders can not take too much water from the Katherine River.
"There was scientific work done in the early 2000s that looked into what needed to be maintained, and the plan ensures we are meeting those targets," Mr Yin Foo said.
"If we can manage licencees and people who use the ground water we can manage how much is coming out."
Licencees are notified in early May about how much water they can use for the year ahead, and Mr Yin Foo said people should not be concerned.
"Fortunately, over the last 10 years there have been few years where we have had to make cuts.
"There won't be any surprises."
"Most years licence holders do not use their full allocations anyway, there is actually a low level of usage in the Katherine area, I wouldn't be concerned."
Read more about the Katherine Tindall Limestone Water Allocation Plan here.
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