8 January 2010
Rain puts brakes on storage drop
An unseasonal downpour to start the year has slowed the rate of decline in water storages in the past week.
Storages dropped by 0.1% of capacity, representing an overall decrease of 1.9 billion litres.
The major catchments received between 23 to 53 mm during the week, with an average of 28.4 mm.
The long-term average for the period is 19.4 mm. While rainfall was above average, streamflow into the major reservoirs was down on historical levels due to the dry condition of the catchments.
The major reservoirs received 4.4 billion litres of inflow, which was 28 % below the average of 6.1 billion litres.
Storages are now 37.4% (676.3 billion litres) full, compared with 34.7% (615.5 billion litres) at the same time last year.
The rain helped keep residential water use at low levels for this time of year. Melburnians used an average of 138 litres per person per day.
This was 17 litres below 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 or by contacting the government water retailers.
Stage 3a restrictions and Target 155 are currently in place.
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Media Contact: Andrew McGinnes +613 9235 7277 +61 (0)403 930 846