Australia Looks For Relief From Water Restrictions
Melbourne’s water storages have had the biggest monthly gain in 17 years but as we continue to experience drought and climate change the real relief will come from the major water projects including the Sugarloaf Pipeline and Victoria’s Desalination Plant, the Premier John Brumby said today.
During October, Melbourne’s water storages increased by 90 billion litres, increasing storages from 32.9 per cent to 37.9 per cent, to hold more than 685 billion litres of water.
Mr Brumby said the increase was the equivalent of three months supply with reservoirs now holding 80 billion litres more than at the same time last year.
“After a record dry start to the year, we’ve seen welcome relief for storages, but 13 years of drought and climate change have shown us that the situation can change quickly,” Mr Brumby said.
Our Government’s water projects, not rainfall, will provide the roadmap back from tough water restrictions.
“We need a non-rainfall dependent source of water which is why the desalination plant is so vital as it will provide around a third of Melbourne’s drinking water needs regardless of rainfall.”
“Water from our projects like Tarago Reservoir, Sugarloaf Pipeline, Geelong-Melbourne Pipeline and the Desalination Plant will change the way that water restrictions are applied in Victoria.
“We have asked Victoria’s water authorities to report back to the Government on a new regime of how water restrictions will apply with our new sources of water.”
Despite the increase in storages this month rainfall was 6.1 per cent below average. Melbourne had 96.4 mm of rain over the four major catchments during October, compared with the 30-year average of 102.7 mm.
Overall October consumption decreased by 8.9 per cent compared with October last year – the equivalent of 94 million litres a day less.
Mr Brumby said the last time we had a gain this big in our storages was in September 1992.
“With the catchments the wettest they have been for the year following the Grand Final Day downpour, a lot of the rain we had in October boosted our supplies,” he said.
“Despite this so far in 2009 the amount of water that has flowed into reservoirs is more than 20 per cent below average.”
Water Minister Tim Holding said the warmer weather had seen water use increase to reach 157 litres per person per day last week, although Melburnians are on track to achieve Target 155 for the year.
“Since we introduced Target 155 Melburnians have saved 17.8 billion litres of water compared to the previous year. We are saving as much water under Stage 3a and Target 155 as we would expect to save under Stage 4 water restrictions.” Mr Holding said.
“The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting a hotter and drier than average summer so it’s important that we continue to keep saving water as our major projects come online.
Topics: Australia, catchments, climate change, desalination plant, drought, environment, Geelong Melbourne Pipeline, Governance, Melbourne, Sugarloaf Pipeline, Tarago Reservoir, Victoria, water gain, water projects, water restrictions, water sources
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