WATER


RAINFALL

According to the Bureau of Meteorology's Seasonal Climate Summary for South Australia, Winter 2010 produced a colder and wetter than average season.

Winter began with below average June rainfall around the state, which was subsequently offset by above average rainfall in July, and above average to well above average rainfall in August.

Generally, agricultural districts received near average rainfall, with well above average rainfall falling in pastoral districts.

Rainfall totals were typically 100mm to 200mm for the winter season, with the highest total for the state recorded at Uraidla in the Adelaide Hills with 561.8mm.

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


RESERVOIR LEVELS

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, it was a dry start to October 2010 in southern areas of the state, though wetter in the north. Due to the location of South Australia's reservoirs, storage capacity is heavily reliant upon rainfall in the Mount Lofty Ranges catchment area (SA Water). With some parts of the Mount Lofty Ranges receiving less than average rainfall, total water storage levels fell to 89% of capacity by the end of October. This is slightly below storage volumes held at the end of October 2009 (92%), but considerably higher than storage volumes at the same time in 2008 (73%).

Source: SA Water daily reservoir levels