The first water allocations for 2008 to 2009 have been announced for the Murray and Murrumbidgee valleys.

There is an available water determination of 25 per cent for high security users in the Murray Valley and 30 per cent for those in the Murrumbidgee Valley, say the Department of Water and Energy.

In a statement, the department’s deputy director-general, David Harriss, says July rainfall has generated enough inflows to make some water available.

He says there is not enough water available to increase the allocation for town water supply and stock and domestic users who remain on 50 per cent of entitlement.

But he says future inflows will be used to provide stock and domestic water to users along tributary creeks and streams.