22 September 2011
Dam rise well below spring average
Water storages crept up slightly in the past week on the back of modest rain, but the rise was well below the spring average.
Dam levels increased by 0.1 % of capacity (a net gain of 2.4 billion litres), compared with the average weekly spring gain of 0.4%.
The four major catchments received an average of 23mm of rain, which was evenly spread.
This was slightly below the long-term average for the period, 28mm.
With the catchments becoming drier from warmer weather, streamflow into the major dams was below par.
The 9 billion litres of streamflow was 59% below the 30-year average for the period (22 billion litres).
Almost half of the streamflow was received by the system’s largest storage, the Thomson Dam.
Water storages are now 62.4% (1130 billion litres) full, compared with 46.8% (849 billion litres) at the same time last year – a difference of 281 billion litres.
Melburnians used an average of 146 litres of water per person per day over the past week. This is 8 litres per person 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