1345.4 - SA Stats, Oct 2009  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 27/10/2009   
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WATER


RAINFALL

According to the Bureau of Meteorology's Seasonal Climate Summary for South Australia, winter rainfall totals in 2009 were generally near average around the state with most rain falling late June through July.

Exceptions to this were in the pastoral areas with totals below average in the eastern and northern pastoral districts. Within these districts, however, individual locations, such as Yardea with 148mm, recorded large totals due to isolated thunderstorm events.

Above average rainfall results were recorded over the Eyre Peninsula with Streaky Bay, for example, receiving 291mm in the season; 67% above the winter average for the area of 174mm. The lower parts of the Yorke Peninsula, Kangaroo Island and much of the Mount Lofty Ranges also recorded results above average.

Both Growing season (April - October) and Year to date rainfall totals are tracking near average across most of the state.

Rainfall Anomalies
Diagram: Rainfall Anomalies


Source: 3-monthly rainfall anomalies for South Australia, Australian Bureau of Meteorology


RESERVOIR LEVELS

The Bureau of Meteorology reported September 2009 rainfall to be near average across most catchment regions of South Australia. Run-off has continued to increase reservoir levels, with total storage at 90% of capacity by the end of September. This is the highest storage volume held since November 2005, according to SA Water, and will allow environmental flows to occur for the first time since 2006. Consequently, only about 1.3 gigalitres of water has been pumped from the River Murray into Adelaide's metropolitan reservoirs in the period 1 July - 30 September 2009. This compares with nearly 40 gigalitres pumped during the same period in 2008.

TOTAL RESERVOIR STORAGE, As a percentage of capacity, Adelaide
Graph: TOTAL RESERVOIR STORAGE, As a percentage of capacity, Adelaide


Source: SA Water daily reservoir levels