25 January 2007
STORAGES 19.7% LOWER THAN AT THE SAME TIME LAST YEAR
Melbourne's water storages have dropped a further 0.4% (7,600 million litres) this week to 37.0% (656,243 million litres) full today. At the same time last year, Melbourne's water storages were 56.4% (999,637 million litres) full.
Rainfall totals for the week in the four major catchments - Thomson, Upper Yarra, O'Shannassy and Maroondah - were between 10.2 mm and 35.4 mm.
Rainfall in Melbourne kept demand down at the start of the week, as less water was used to water gardens. Our average daily water use this week was 1,075 million litres, significantly below the summer average daily use of 1,452 million litres.
Melburnians are encouraged to continue their commendable water saving efforts over the Australia Day long weekend.
Stage 3 water restrictions are now in place and include a ban on the watering of lawns and hoses cannot be used to wash cars. Full details are available by visiting the Our Water Our Future website ourwater.vic.gov.au [website no longer available, visit Office of Water for this information] or by contacting the government water retailers.