23 October 2008
STORAGES CONTINUE DECLINE
Another week of unseasonably low rainfall and poor streamflows has seen Melbourne’s water storages drop by 0.2% of total capacity, to be at 34.2% full.
Storages decreased for the second consecutive week after the four major catchments received an average of 4mm of rain, compared with the long-term average of 27mm for the period. The reservoirs received 4.3 billion litres of streamflows – about 70% below the long-term average.
Storages are now 104 billion litres lower than the same time last year, when they were at 40.1% (712.9 billion litres) full.
Average daily water consumption was 1,081 million litres. This was 20 million litres more than the previous week, but much less than the 1990s spring average of 1,246 million litres a day.
Melbourne’s water authorities are encouraging four-minute showers and providing a free showerhead exchange program to help save more water ahead of summer.
Stage 3a restrictions are in place until at least 30 November 2008. Further details on water restrictions are available by visiting the Our Water Our Future [website no longer available, visit Office of Water for this information] website or by contacting the government water retailers.
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Media Contact: Andrew McGinnes +613 9235 7277 +61 (0)403 930 846