Grand final win for storages in October

* Biggest monthly storage boost in 17 years
* Year-to-date streamflow more than 20% below normal
* Consumption almost 100 million litres a day lower than last year

Heavy rain in Melbourne's catchments over the AFL grand final weekend has helped water storages gain 90 billion litres in October, the biggest monthly boost since September 1992.

Storages increased from 32.9% to 37.9% full on October 31, gaining the equivalent of about three months' water supply for Melbourne. The ten reservoirs are now holding 80 billion litres more than at the same time last year.

Manager of Water Supply John Woodland said the October increase would have been much lower without the downpours on grand final weekend.

“The late September rain was still making its way into the storages well into October and as a result the catchments were the wettest they've been all year,” said Mr Woodland.

“With the catchments so damp, a lot of the follow-up rain we had in October made its way into the reservoirs and further boosted our supplies.”

Mr Woodland said the October result was pleasing, but the amount of water flowing into reservoirs so far in 2009 was still more than 20% below the 30-year average for January to October.

“We've seen storages rise from just over a quarter full in June to more than a third full now, but 13 years of drought has shown us that the situation can change quickly.

“Storages were about 34% full this time last year before falling to a record low of 25.6% and the Bureau of Meteorology is currently forecasting a hotter and drier than average summer.

“It's important we continue to keep saving water ahead of the hotter months when consumption typically peaks,” he added.

Melbourne homes and businesses continued to reduce water use in October, with consumption across all uses a significant 94 million litres a day less than during the same period last year.
IMPACT OF OCTOBER ON WATER STORAGES

* An average of 96.4 mm of rain was received over the four major catchments during October, compared with the 30-year average of 102.7 mm (6.1% below average).
* Streamflow into reservoirs in the four major catchments totalled 94.2 billion litres (43.5% above average). This translated into a 90.2 billion litre net gain, after consumption.
* Overall October consumption (all uses) decreased by 8.9% compared with October last year – the equivalent of 94 million litres a day less.