23 June 2011
Thomson Dam reaps benefit of wet week
The system’s largest dam, the Thomson, fared best in a week of above–average rain and runoff over the catchments.
Storages rose by 0.5% - a net increase of 10 billion litres - with more than half of the gain made at the Thomson Dam.
This helped push the Thomson’s levels above 40% for the first time in five years.
All four major catchments received substantial rainfall, with the average being 46mm. This was 77% above the long-term norm for the period of 26mm.
With good rain falling on wet catchments, the weekly streamflow into the major reservoirs (20 billion litres) was more than double the 30-year average for the period (9 billion litres).
Water storages are now 55.7% (1010 billion litres) full, compared with 33.2% (602 billion litres) at the same time last year – a difference of 408 billion litres.
Melburnians used an average of 133 litres of water per person per day over the past week.
This is 2 litres per day more 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