Grim rain outlook as storages plummet

Jessica Benton
FORECASTERS gave a “grim” long-term forecast for rain as the region’s water storage levels plummeted this week.
The storages fell to 26.8 per cent by Tuesday, down about one quarter on capacity at the same time last year when levels were 35.6 per cent.
Capacity continued declining despite lower consumption during the summer holiday season so far than the same time last last year.
Geelong Weather Services director Lindsay Smail said the “frugality” of Barwon Water’s customers was saving the region from a water supply disaster.
“It’s the only thing keeping the region out of dire straits,” Mr Smail said.
“Geelong people are very good at saving water.”
Mr Smail called the long-term rain forecast for the region “very grim”.
“Right at this moment southern Victoria has a real rainfall deficit,” he said.
“There’s not much rain expected over the next four weeks, either. There’s a possibility it might improve in late February but from March right through to August the models are showing below-average rainfalls.
“It’s all fairly pessimistic.”
Mr Smail said the Geelong region and other parts of Victoria were about the only areas of Australia still struggling with drought after rain had “steadily relieved” most interstate regions.
Victoria would be “the last part of the country to be relieved”, he said.
Geelong remains on level-four water restrictions, the highest available to Barwon Water.
However, Barwon Water managing director Michael Malouf said the authority could make “modifications” to restrictions.
Staff would continue keeping a close eye on storage levels and consumption, he said.
Barwon Water customers consumed 636 million litres in the past week compared to 682ML at the same time last year.
Consumption so far this year was 12 per cent lower than the same time in 2008.
“This is due to cool conditions reducing demand,” Mr Malouf said.
The region would wait up to another year for completion of a project to supply Geelong with borewater from Anglesea, he said.
The borewater would boost supplies by up to 30 per cent.