Storage Levels - June 2011
The total volume of water in most of Victoria’s major storages increased during June compared to the end of the previous month. By the end of June, Victoria’s major storages had risen to 79.7% of total capacity.
The total volume in regional Victoria’s major storages rose by 2.2% to 83.8% during June. Dartmouth Reservoir, one of Victoria’s key drought reserves, is yet to fill and remains less than 70% full despite the above average rainfall and low demand during 2010/11.
Continued above average rainfall and inflows combined with low consumption saw Melbourne’s storage levels increase by 1.7% to 55.6% this month. During June, Melbourne’s total storage volume pushed above 1,000 giga-litres (GL) for the first time since 2006. Melbourne Water has reported that the last six months saw just over 250 GL of inflows to storages – the biggest volume since 1970 and twice the long-term average.
However, Thomson Reservoir remains the key to significant storage gains for Melbourne in winter/spring 2011. Although rising above 40% for the first time in five years during June, there is still more than 625 GL of space left to fill the dam.