Our dams near 50%

Kim Waters
BARWON Water is reviewing stage three restrictions as the region’s storages creep toward 50 per cent capacity following heavy rain.
A spokesperson said levels were at a “five-year high” after more than 188mm of rain in the region’s West Barwon catchment this month compared to an August average of 94.8mm.
The storages reached 46.7 per cent capacity on Wednesday, up from 33 per cent a fortnight ago.
Barwon Water’s Carl Bicknell said the organisation was keeping a close eye on the weather and storage levels as it reviewed water restrictions.
“Storage levels have not been this high since 2005 and, with more rain forecast this week, we may see a further increase.”
Mr Bicknell said the region’s storages had received their biggest monthly boost since October, 2000.
Geelong Weather Services’ Lindsay Smail said recent heavy rain was a “welcome sign” set to continue into next week.
“We’ll have showers on and off for the next week or so and then normal winter rain after that.”
Mr Smail said urban Geelong’s August rain was already 166 millimetres, smashing the August average of 144mm.
“That’s quite unusual for the last 10 years – and we still have another two weeks of normal rainfall predicted for Geelong.”
However, he predicted winter’s blustery chill was set to end soon but rain would continue falling.
“Spring will be slightly warmer than usual but certainly not dry. There will be a lot of rain, so our flooding problems aren’t over yet.”