1 August 2008
STORAGES PUT ON 1.1% DURING JULY
A combination of rain, runoff and water savings has seen a net increase of almost 19 billion litres in Melbourne’s storages for July.
With a total average of 122mm of rain falling over the major catchments during the month, storages have improved steadily from 29.5% on 1 July to 30.6% today.
Rainfall over the catchments was 14% above the long term July average. However, runoff into most reservoirs was about half the norm as catchments gradually begin to dampen.
Manager of Water Supply Operations, John Woodland, said the above average July rainfall was a positive sign for storages but that follow-up rain was needed.
“The rain we’ve had so far this season is helping storage levels move in the right direction, but below average runoff tells us that the catchments are still recovering from a dry autumn,” he said.
“Our wettest months are normally August to October, so sustained rainfall in that time will help us capitalise on what’s in the ground already and translate into the streamflow we need to make a real difference to storages.”
Mr Woodland said the relationship between heavy rain and good runoff can be seen after sustained wet weather, when reservoir levels keep rising several days after rain stops.
Reservoir levels fell below 2007 comparisons in June 2008, which coincided with what’s estimated to be a one-in-30 year storm over the Thomson Reservoir in mid-2007. Storages are currently 5.2% lower than this time last year.
“We had an exceptional downpour in the middle of 2007, which saturated the catchments and primed them for the wetter spring months. We’re playing catch-up to that at the moment, so with a combination of water savings and more rain, we hope to see that gap narrow,” said Mr Woodland.
“Melburnians are doing a great job of saving water, using about a third less than in the 1990s. We encourage households and business to keep saving water, even in the wetter months, so our storages have to best chance to recover.”
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.
Media Contact: Andrew McGinnes +613 9235 7277 +61 (0)403 930 846