In a submission to the Federal Senate's inquiry into the Murray Darling and what can be done to save the Lower Lakes from drying out, the QFF says that up to 55 gigalitres of water a year could be saved if Adelaide residents were put on the same level of restrictions as residents in Brisbane.

Adelaide households last year used an average of 235 litres per person per day compared with 153L in Brisbane.

"It's a bit steep in my view for Adelaide and South Australia residents to complain about Queensland irrigators, who are only about 3-5pc of the water usage in the basin, when the people of Adelaide have not agreed to the same level of water efficency as the people of Brisbane," QFF chief executive John Cherry said.

"QFF also questions the merit of targeting water holdings in the upper catchment as a means of watering the lower lakes, pointing to losses of upwards of 70-80pc in moving the water downstream.

"The only solution in the short to medium term is for rain across the Murray-Darling catchment to increase flow to the lakes."

It's a call backed by SA Murray Irrigators chairman Tim Whetstone who has been arguing the same point for 18 months.

"Under the current arrangements in this state, Murray irrigators and their communities are the only people bearing the brunt of the drought," Mr Whetstone said.

"SA Water has no volumetric restrictions on their clients.

"It is long overdue that a user pays system was implemented right across the State.

"It is time the Premier started governing for all of South Australia and not just Adelaide.

"To this point Adelaide residents have been shielded from the reality of the River Murray and the drought.

"It is time water restrictions that reflected the real situation were implemented.

"Only then will South Australians have the type of credibility required to drive a Basin-wide rescue strategy."