Canberra’s dams reached a milestone 100 per cent total storage capacity this week (22 March) for only the second time since the enlargement of the Cotter Dam in 2013.
Managing Director of Icon Water, Ray Hezkial said that following extreme temperatures in early 2020, and two of Australia’s driest years on record, water storage levels across the ACT dropped below 45 per cent in February last year.
Mr Hezkial said water storage levels had now recovered thanks to a wetter than average 2020 and the commencement of a La Nina event.
“We’ve been pleased to see a considerable increase in rainfall over the last 12 months, compared to recent years, and this has meant Canberra’s water storages are in a much healthier place than this time last year,” Mr Hezkial said.
“While the current rainfall has filled up storage levels, Icon Water are always planning for future droughts and are considering all options to protect Canberra’s long-term water security,” he said.
Mr Hezkial reminded Canberrans that everyone had a part to play in safeguarding the finite water resource.
“We really want to encourage Canberrans to continue to maintain their water wise habits and follow the Permanent Water Conservation Measures which remain in place permanently in the ACT,” he said.
Icon Water has also issued advice that due to recent heavy rainfall entering the sewerage system, the Lower Molonglo Water Quality Control Centre treatment plant was expected to discharge a small amount of partially treated effluent into the Molonglo River.
It said the proportion of the effluent in relation to flows within the river system was less than two per cent of the Molonglo River flow, and less than 0.5 per cent of the Murrumbidgee River flow.
Icon Water said the flows posed no risk to the ACT water supply.
Further information on the Permanent Water Conservation Measures can be accessed at this PS News link.
