Sydney's dam levels spike 2.5 percent - biggest weekly increase since February 2008 - Minister Phillip Costa MP - 28 May 2009
Heavy rain across the catchment area has seen the biggest weekly spike to Sydneys dam supplies in 15 months, NSW Water Minister Phil Costa said today.
Mr Costa said in the past week, around two months supply had entered our dams lifting overall storage levels from 58.1 to 60.6 percent.
"This is the biggest increase we've experienced since February 2008," said Mr Costa.
"Dam levels have been at or below 59 percent since the beginning of March this year, so it is great to see them above 60 percent again," he said.
"Most of that increase was captured by Warragamba Dam, with much of the rise coming from the Kowmung, Coxs and Kedumba rivers in the northern half of the catchment."
Mr Costa said so far this May we have received 71mm of rain over the Warragamba catchment, already well above the long term median for May of just 49mm.
"Although this rain has delivered a boost to our dams, I encourage people to continue their good work conserving water," Mr Costa continued.
"While the recent rain is welcomed by Sydney, I sympathise with those families in Northern NSW who suffered devastating floods from the same weather event.
"Also, we respect our cousins west of the mountains who continue the tough battle against the longest drought on record," added Mr Costa.
It would require at least five days of 35 millimetres per day rainfall across the entire 16,000 square kilometres of drinking water catchments to see total storage rise to 70 percent of capacity.
