WATER STORAGES UP 10% ON LAST YEAR
29 July 2004
Melbourne’s water storages increased by 0.5%, or 9177 million litres, in the past week, and are now at 51.2%. This is nearly 10% higher than this time last year.
But it is still about 30% below the level our water storages were at in July 1996 before the drought started in Melbourne.
Melbourne Water Managing Director Brian Bayley said the four major catchments had received above average rainfall in June and were on track to receive average rainfall for July, but it would take about five years of average run-off into the reservoirs to boost storages back to pre-drought levels of about 80%.
Melbourne’s water storages for the week ending 22 July 2004 were 51.2% (908,219 million litres) full. For the same time last year (29 July 2003) Melbourne’s water storages were 41.4% (734,085 million litres) full.
Stage 2 water restrictions are now in place in Melbourne