14 April 2011
Wet week delivers three days’ water
Water storages have risen by 0.1% of capacity on the back of a wet week for Melbourne’s catchments.
The increase represents a net gain of 2.9 billion litres – the equivalent of three days’ water supply to Melbourne.
The major catchments received an average of 65mm of rain, which was more than four times the long-term average for the period, 14mm.
The modest rise is due to most of the rain falling on catchments that feed the system’s smallest dams, with much less at our largest dam, the Thomson.
With many of the smaller dams close to full, any significant storage gains in 2011 will depend on conditions at the Thomson.
The 10 billion litres of stream flow into the major dams was three times the 30-year average for the period (3 billion litres).
Water storages are now 53.5% (970 billion litres) full, compared with 33.7% (610 billion litres) at the same time last year – a difference of 360 billion litres.
Melburnians used an average of 141 litres of water each a day - 7 litres less than the previous week.
Information on water restrictions and tips on how to save water are available from the Office of Water 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