NSW and Queensland coal industry uses as much water as all Sydney households, report finds

Coalmining and coal-fired power use about 383bn litres a year, roughly equivalent to needs of 5.2 million people

The coal industry in New South Wales and Queensland is using as much water as all of Sydney's households, according to new research.

A new report by University of Adelaide water resources academic Ian Overton, commissioned by the Australian Conservation Foundation, used public data to examine the impact of coalmining and coal-fired power on water resources.