State of the Storages
January 2011
Much improved rainfall and runoff and a significant cut in water use has seen water storages gain almost 300 billion litres in 2010 - the equivalent of about 10 month’s water supply for Melbourne.
The major catchments received the highest annual rainfall (1,218mm) since 1996, which resulted in the largest volume of streamflow (559 billion litres) into the reservoirs since 2000. Rainfall and runoff were above the 30-year average by 15% and 14%, respectively.
The strong result marks a significant turnaround in the 18 months since storages hit an all-time low of around 25% in June 2009.
Melbourne dam levels: 2009 v 2010
What does this graph show?
Melbourne’s dams have staged a remarkable turnaround since mid-2009 when they hit an all-time low of 25%. At the end of 2010, storages were 53.7% full.
The storage boost was set up by good rainfall earlier in the year, which meant the catchments were wet enough to convert most of the heavy winter and spring rain into runoff. As a result, the dams started filling earlier and for longer than in recent years.
The big winner of 2010 was the systems’ largest storage, the Thomson Dam, which banked 163 billion litres – more than half of the total storage gain for the year.
Melbourne households, business and industry used 346 billion litres of water in 2010 – the lowest annual water use since 1983.
Impact of 2010 on storage levels
- Storages rose from 37.5% to 53.7% during 2010.
- The catchments received 1,218mm of rain – which is 14.7% above the 30-year average.
- A total of 559.4 billion litres flowed into Melbourne’s four major dams on the back of this rain, which is 13.8% above average.
- Melbourne businesses and households continued to save water. Total water consumption (across all uses) in 2010 was 3.6% lower, or 36 million litres a day less, than 2009.
Archive
To view previous State of the Storages reports see:
More information
- Factsheets:
- Thomson Dam Cam
- Interactive system map