1.5 billion litres in boost for storages

A 1.5 billion-litre boost to the region’s storages has followed two weeks of “steady” rain, according to Barwon Water.
Storage capacity reached 19.6 per cent on Wednesday after West Barwon Reservoir received 40mm of rain in the previous week.
The storages hit a low of about 18.1 per cent last month as the region completed its third driest first half of the year on record.
Barwon Water said storages began rising around the start of July and increased a half a per cent in the past week as rain continued across the region.
Capacity is set to continue climbing in the remainder of the month, with Bureau of Meteorology predicting rain for most days.
Barwon Water supply manager Ian Davis said this month’s rain was so far in line with the long-term monthly average.
He hoped for heavier falls to come.
“After a run of drier-than-average months, we have now had some good rainfall to wet the catchment. This will lead to better run off,” Mr Davis said.
“We now need some consistent, solid rain rather than intermittent showers to provide decent inflows.”
However, Mr Davis warned that long-term forecasts were bleak despite the “positive start to July.
Bureau of Meteorology had forecast drier-than-average weather for the next three months, he said.
The outlook included an increasing likelihood of a return to El Nino weather patterns, which experts believe cause drought in Australia.
El Nino is related to a fluctuation in water temperatures and currents between Australia and South America, blamed for simultaneously creating drought in one continent and floods in the other. The system’s opposite, El Nina, reverses the pattern.
Mr Davis asked consumers to be frugal in their use of water.
“The July-to-September forecast suggests a 60 per cent chance of below-average rain,” Mr Davis said.
“The bureau is also warning that the odds of an El Nino event occuring this year are now above 50 per cent.
“With these warnings in mind, it is important to continue to conserve water wherever possible.”
The region remains on stage four water restrictions.