26 March 2010
Storages shed 0.3% as dry weather continues
Water storages have continued to decline after another week of virtually no rain over the major catchments.
Storages decreased by 0.3% of capacity, representing an overall drop of 5.3 billion litres.
The major catchments received between 0.2 and 4.6 mm of rain during the week, with the average being 2.4 mm.
This was well below the long-term average for the period, 14.7 mm, and marks a fortnight of next to no catchment rainfall.
The volume of water entering the major reservoirs also fell short of the average for this time of year.
The 2.0 billion litres of stream flow was 29.5 % below the average of 2.9 billion litres.
Storages are now 34.2% (619.3 billion litres) full, compared with 29.5% (523.5 billion litres) at the same time last year – a difference of 95.8 billion litres.
Melbourne households helped lessen the rate of decline in storages by keeping residential water use under the target of 155 litres per person a day.
Melburnians used a daily average of 152 litres each – the third consecutive week we’ve met the target.
More information on restrictions and tips on how to reach the target are available from Target 155 [website no longer available, visit Office of Water for this information] 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