13 January 2011
Summer rain starts mini-rally
An unseasonably wet week has pushed Melbourne’s dam levels slightly higher.
The 0.1% increase comes after storages recently fell for the first time in six months, as the weather warmed up.
The upswing is expected to extend into next week as water from continued rain makes its way through the system.
Catchment rainfall of 38mm in the past week was more than four times the normally modest summer average of just 8mm.
The increased rainfall saw double the average streamflow enter our dams.
Reservoirs received 8 billion litres of runoff, compared with the average of just 4 billion litres.
Water storages are now 53.8% (974 billion litres) full, compared with 37.0% (670 billion litres) at the same time last year – a difference of 304 billion litres.
Melbourne households used an average of 154 litres per person per day over the past week – 6 litres a day higher than last week.
Information on water restrictions and tips on how to save water are available from Our Water Our Future [website no longer available, visit Office of Water for this information] or by contacting the government water retailers.
Stage 2 restrictions are currently in place.
Media Contact: Nicolas McGay +613 9235 2278 +61 (0)438 981 836