6 August 2010
Wet week boosts storages by 0.6%
A week of almost double the average catchment rainfall has boosted Melbourne’s dam levels by 0.6% of total capacity.
The rise, representing a net gain of 11 billion litres, is the equivalent of nearly two weeks’ water supply for Melbourne.
The good result came as the major catchments received between 34 and 75mm of rain, with an average of 45mm.
This was nearly twice the 30-year average for the period (24mm).
With the catchments damp from previous rain events, the rain resulted in good flows into the major reservoirs and will improve the ability of the catchments to harvest any more rain in coming weeks.
The 14 billion litres of streamflow fell just short of the norm.
Storages are now 36.5% (662.0 billion litres) full, compared with 27.2% (492.9 billion litres) at the same time last year – a difference of 169.1 billion litres.
Households continued to save water, with Melburnians using 132 litres per person a day.
This is the 20th week in a row that we’ve come under the target of 155 litres each a day.
More information on restrictions and tips on how to reach the target are available from Target 155 [website no longer available, visit Office of Water for this information] or by contacting the government water retailers.
Stage 3 restrictions and Target 155 are currently in place.
Media Contact: Nicolas McGay +613 9235 2278 +61 (0)438 981 836