3 July 2008
STORAGES STEADY AT 29.6%
Good rainfall has helped Melbourne’s storages hold steady, essentially offsetting the city’s water use for the week and adding 640 million litres (or 0.04%) to overall capacity.
In total, the four major catchments received an average of 37.2 mm rain.
Storages are now 29.6% full (524,546 million litres) compared with 31.5% (558,019 million litres) for the same period last year. This is the first time in 2008 that storages have dipped below 2007 levels and coincides with a one-in-30 year storm in late June 2007, when reservoirs saw some of their largest one-day gains on record.
Cooler conditions and rain over the metropolitan area helped keep consumption low. Melbourne’s average daily water consumption was 946 million litres per day compared with an average of 1,108 million litres per day in the 1990s.
Stage 3a restrictions are in place until at least 30 November 2008. Further details on water restrictions are available by visiting the Our Water Our Future website or by contacting the government water retailers.
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