13 November 2008
STORAGES DECLINE SLIGHTLY
Melbourne’s water storages have declined by 0.2% of capacity after a week of below average rainfall and streamflows.
Storages declined slightly to be 33.5% full (593 billion litres), compared with 40.4% (717 billion litres) at the same time last year. An average of 12 mm of rainfall fell over the four major harvesting catchments – just under half the long-term average for the period (27mm).
As a result, the reservoirs received 3.8 billion litres of streamflows, which was 71% below the average for the period. The average daily water use was 1,087 million litres per day, compared with 1,058 million litres in the same period last year.
However, Melbournians are still using much less water than in the 1990s, when the spring average was 1,246 million litres per day.
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.
Links
Media Contact: Andrew McGinnes +613 9235 7277 +61 (0)403 930 846