28 July 2011
Dams bank fortnight’s water in wet week
Above-average rain on already-wet catchments has continued to generate high volumes of runoff into Melbourne’s dams, boosting storages by 0.9%.
The increase, representing a net gain of 17 billion litres, is the equivalent of more than a fortnight’s water supply to Melbourne.
The system’s biggest storage, the Thomson Dam, was again the main beneficiary, gaining most of the rainfall and runoff.
The Thomson received 39mm of rain, but smaller totals at the other three catchments lowered the weekly average to 26.5mm.
This was still 20% above the long-term norm for the period of (22mm).
Of the 27 billion litres of runoff into the major dams (double the long-term average), the Thomson received 14 billion litres.
Water storages are now 59.6% (1081 billion litres) full, compared with 35.9% (650 billion litres) at the same time last year – a difference of 431 billion litres.
Melburnians used an average of 138 litres of water per person per day over the past week. This was 1 litre 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