The 2025-26 Water Markets Report is now available 

WSP has launched the 2025–26 Review and 2026–27 Outlook edition of the Southern Murray-Darling Basin Water Markets Report. Download your copy now. Now in its thirteenth year, the report provides independent analysis of the trends and conditions shaping Australia’s water markets. This year’s edition explores water availability, allocation and entitlement market trends, Commonwealth water purchases, and the outlook for 2026–27.

About the Water Markets Report

Australian water management has undergone a significant period of reform over the past three decades. The establishment of water markets has been a key component of this reform story.

Water markets are now an established part of agricultural, urban and environmental water policy, management and investment in Australia.

The WSP* Water Markets Report provides an overview of current water market activity in the southern Murray-Darling Basin, compares market outcomes with recent years and comments on the future outlook. WSP prepares this free publication as part of our goal of improving the transparency of Australian water markets information for all market participants.

Our Water Market Services

We have a team of award-winning, independent water markets, policy, and infrastructure advisors.

Every day, we help businesses and governments make better decisions about scarce water resources.

We do this by providing high-quality information, insights and analysis that help our clients design and implement strategies for successfully participating in Australia’s water markets. Our team also provides policy, regulatory and infrastructure advisory services.

Whether you need custom-designed water strategies or assessments of your exposure to water-related risks and opportunities, we’ll help you make clear, informed and confident water decisions.

*These reports were previously created under Ricardo, a member of WSP, which were acquired in 2025.