Water storage levels back below 30%
Despite recent rainfall and lower water use, Melbourne's water storages have dropped below 30%.
This is because the catchments are still very dry.
In the week to 19 March, rainfall was 200% above average in some areas. But the corresponding runoff into reservoirs was less than 10% above average. This gap shows how dry the catchments are.
Water catchments need to be relatively wet to produce significant runoff into storages.
With cooler weather the storages are expected to decline more slowly than earlier in the year. Lower water use by households and business is also helping.
Melbourne's storage levels tend to decline slowly until the middle of the year, before wetter weather between July and November helps then recover.
Key facts
- This is the third time in three years storages have been under 30%
- Last time storages were under 30% - July 2008.