Perth weekly water update - 29 October 2021
| Target | Actual | |
|---|---|---|
| October water use to date |
21.7 billion litres |
19.9 billion litres |
| Dam storage levels | N/A | 63.5% |
| Monthly streamflow into dams | N/A | 12.59 billion litres |
| October rainfall to date | 51.5mm (October average rainfall 1876-2016) | 122.8mm |
| Note: 1 billion litres = approximately 400 Olympic swimming pools. Please note the figures in this table are rounded (except for rainfall) to the nearest whole number. | ||
Water use
Average water use over the past week was 708 million litres per day – below the demand forecast of 823 million litres per day.
Daily water use for the last 5 days
| Date | Actual water use (million litres) | Forecast water use (million litres) |
|---|---|---|
| 29/10/2021 | 762 | 836 |
| 28/10/2021 | 684 | 836 |
| 27/10/2021 | 668 | 836 |
| 26/10/2021 | 678 | 836 |
| 25/10/2021 | 761 | 804 |
| Note, water use is calculated up to 8am each day for the previous 24 hour period. | ||
Since 1 July 2021 to date, we have used 78.41 billion litres of water – which is 0.11 billion litres above the forecast target for this period.
Dam levels (total for 15 dams)
The dam storage levels are slightly up on last week and are sitting at a combined 63.5 per cent* of full capacity.
*Please note some dams are filled from different sources - dam levels include the transfer of groundwater and desalinated seawater from treatment plants as well as streamflow (that comes from rainfall). As we use many different sources of water, dams are no longer an accurate indicator of the health of Perth's overall water supply situation.
Streamflow (total for 15 dams)
From 1 May 2021, the dams have received 129.4 billion litres of streamflow. The post-1975 average for the May to April period (called the streamflow year) is 177.9 billion litres.
Sprinkler roster compliance
Since 1 January 2021, we have taken a total of 4,714 actions (warnings + fines) compared with 4,806 actions for the same period in 2020.
Annual rainfall
Perth has received 840.4mm of rainfall since 1 January 2021. The average (1876-2016) rainfall for the same period to the end of October is 809.0mm.
General water news
Had trouble drying your washing this month? You’re not alone.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, Perth has recorded its wettest October since records began with 122.8mm of rainfall so far.
Umbrella weather’s a good reminder to save water and money by switching off your sprinklers. You can leave the retic off for at least two days after it rains, and often for much longer.
However, to help you save even more water in your garden, we’re offering Perth and Peel customers a rebate for the purchase and set up of selected weather smart irrigation controller products, up to the value of $300.
Weather smart irrigation uses local weather data to adjust the watering times for your garden, ensuring it gets the water it needs without overwatering. Having one of these smart irrigation controllers in your garden means you can reduce your water use outdoors by around 15%, while still keeping plants healthy.
Please see here for further information on this waterwise offer.