9 April 2009
STORAGES DECLINE DESPITE WET WEATHER
Melbourne’s water storages continued to drop in the past week despite above average rainfall over the major catchments.
Storages dropped by 0.3% of capacity (5.4 billion litres) to be 28.7% (508.8 billion litres) full. At the same time last year storages were 32.8% (581 billion litres) full.
The catchments received 27 mm of rain in the past week - 80% above the long-term average for the period (15 mm) - which helped slow the rate of decline in storages.
The 2.2 billion litres of streamflows into reservoirs was much higher than the yearly low recorded the previous week, but still 27% below the average for the period.
The week of wet weather helped Melburnians keep their water consumption down, using an average of 143 litres per person a day. This is the fifth consecutive week that consumption has been below the target of 155 litres each a day.
Media Contact: Andrew McGinnes +613 9235 7277 +61 (0)403 930 846