Melbourne: Residents Congratulated For Saving Water

Minister for Water, John Thwaites, today congratulated Melbourne’s residents on their water saving efforts this summer, despite hotter temperatures than normal and low rainfall.

Mr Thwaites said Melburnians used 14 percent less water this year compared to last summer.

“Melbourne used around 1,240 million litres of water a day over summer, which is significantly below last year’s average daily water use of 1,449 million litres,” Mr Thwaites said.

“This is equivalent to a saving of around 19 billion litres of water over summer – almost the capacity of the Maroondah Reservoir.

“This is a great savings effort – particularly when you consider the summer was hotter than average, and we had just 40 percent of the average summer rainfall in Melbourne.

“And flows into our catchments were more than 75 percent below the long term summer average.

“We understand restrictions are having an impact on some industries, residents and sporting clubs, but they are necessary due to the unprecedented weather conditions we are experiencing – and the need to bring about significant savings.

“It’s crucial households continue saving water as they are responsible for 60 percent of the water use from Melbourne’s catchments. Industry in Melbourne is also doing its bit – saving more than 20 percent on its use since the 1990s.

“Without the saving efforts since the start of the Government’s water saving campaign we would be looking at Stage 4 restrictions already in Melbourne.

“We have seen savings equal to about 100 billion litres per year – or about one quarter of Melbourne’s yearly use.”

Melbourne’s reservoirs are currently at 34.1%. The trigger point for stage 4 restrictions is 29.3%.

Summer rainfall figures for Melbourne’s four major catchments: Maroondah 152mm – 26% below average; O’Shannassy 129mm – 37% below average; Upper Yarra 149mm – 23% below average; Thomson 151- 26% below average.