The Federal Government has put up $13 million for South Australian irrigators to get easier access to the water they buy.

Federal Water Resources Minister David Littleproud says the $13.2 million investment in the water trading system will see water delivered to irrigators in minutes or hours, not days.

“This will make sure crops don't wilt while farmers wait on their water,” Mr Littleproud said in a statement.

“The new system will give farmers the flexibility to buy and sell water at short notice.

“It takes the hassle of processing times and delays out of the system.

“It lets water users see real-time data so they can make well-timed business decisions.”

South Australian Minister for Water and Environment David Speirs said the water trading system would bring South Australia in line with the rest of the Basin states.

“This is an exciting and significant step that will make South Australia’s current water regulatory services and systems – an area which SA already performs exceedingly well – even better,” said Minister Speirs.

“The water trading system will improve intra and interstate water trading, including better alignment with the New South Wales and Victorian water management systems as well as support the delivery of the Basin Plan.

“The delivery of these services will reduce red tape and costs to support more efficient business decisions in South Australia.”

The South Australian government is spending $1.47 million upgrading to the new system, which should be fully implemented by June 30, 2021.