Despite widespread scientific and community objections the final basin plan maintains a 2,750 gigalitre goal, but in a last minute compromise Federal Water Minister Tony Burke established a parallel process to acquire an extra 450 gigalitres by 2024.

AGL Energy Limited (ASX:AGK) said it has been selected as the renewable energy supplier for South Australia's new 100 gigalitre per annum desalination plant under construction at Port Stanvac, south of Adelaide.

Following ramp-up, the plant consistently operated above nameplate capacity and 14% above the production rate required to meet the maximum annual water order of 150 gigalitre (GL).

In any case, the 500 gigalitre First Step is still only a third of what the scientists say is needed to give the Murray a chance of returning to a reasonable state of health.

For example, withdrawing 20 gigalitres from an aquifer could, depending on the 'connectivity' level through geological layers, result in a 10 gigalitre recharge from the river, reducing its flow correspondingly.

On 26 March 2018, the state placed a water order for 15 gigalitres (GL) for the financial year ending June 2019, the same amount that was ordered for the previous year.