Metro weekly water update - 7 September 2018

Note: 1 billion litres = approx. 400 Olympic swimming pools.  Please note these figures are rounded (except for rainfall) to the nearest whole number.

Water use

Average daily water use over the last week was 584 million litres, which was above the forecast of 551 million litres.  Since 1 July 2018 we have used 40 billion litres of water - this is about 3 billion litres above what we had forecast.

Dam levels (total for 15 dams)

The dam storage level has increased by 4 billion litres over the last week and they are at 58% of full capacity.   Please note some dams are filled from different sources and this increase may include the transfer of groundwater and desalinated seawater from treatment plants as well as streamflow (that comes from rainfall).  The percentage of full capacity number also reflects water that has been supplied to customers this week.

Streamflow (total for 15 dams)

From 1 May 2018 to 6 September 2018 the dams have received 107 billion litres of streamflow.  For this same time period last year the dams had received 83 billion of streamflow.  The post 1975 average for the May to September period is 145 billion litres.

Sprinkler roster compliance

The summer sprinkler roster now applies but there’s no need to rush out and turn your sprinklers on just yet as gardens are getting plenty of water from rainfall. Our team of inspectors issued 47 warnings and 15 fines this week.  Since 1 January 2018, we have taken a total of 6198 actions (warnings + fines) compared with 7283 actions for the same period in 2017.

Annual rainfall

Perth has received 679 mm of rainfall since January this year.  The cumulative average rainfall for January to December is 732.8 mm. 

General water news

Our new Water for Life campaign launched on Sunday, September 2 and you can find out all about it by visiting https://www.watercorporation.com.au/waterforlife

You will see Water for Life in your social media feeds, YouTube and on catch up TV.  In the metro you’ll also see it on free-to-air television, in the cinema and on outdoor billboards.

Water for Life seeks to draw people to our website to learn the basics such as where water comes from and what the impact of climate change means.

Education campaigns are an important part of the Western Australian Government’s vision of becoming a more Waterwise City.