Perth weekly water update - 18 June 2021
| Target | Actual | |
|---|---|---|
| June water use to date |
11.9 billion litres |
11.8 billion litres |
| Dam storage levels | N/A | 43.2% |
| Monthly streamflow into dams | N/A | 0.39 billion litres |
| June rainfall to date | 173.1mm (June average rainfall 1876-2016) | 32.8 mm |
| 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 621 million litres per day – below the demand forecast of 645 million litres per day.
Daily water use for the last 5 days
| Date | Actual water use (million litres) | Forecast water use (million litres) |
|---|---|---|
| 18/06/2021 | 633 | 634 |
| 17/06/2021 | 629 | 634 |
| 16/06/2021 | 596 | 634 |
| 15/06/2021 | 607 | 634 |
| 14/06/2021 | 673 | 577 |
| Note, water use is calculated up to 8am each day for the previous 24 hour period. | ||
Since 1 July 2020, we have used 286.12 billion litres of water – which is 1.18 billion litres below 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 43.2 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 1.8 billion litres of streamflow. The post-1975 average for the May to April period (called the streamflow year) is 175.58 billion litres.
Sprinkler roster compliance
Since 1 January 2021, we have taken a total of 2,993 actions (warnings + fines) compared with 2,995 actions for the same period in 2020.
Annual rainfall
Perth has received 268.4 mm of rainfall since 1 January 2021. The average (1876-2016) rainfall for the same period to the end of June is 375.9mm.
General water news
Maintaining your garden during winter is vital to helping it thrive during spring and summer. While the recent winter rain we’ve experienced has taken care of our garden’s water needs, there are a few other tips and tricks you can implement to keep gardens lush all year round, such as improving your soil.
Good soil is the foundation of a healthy, waterwise garden. The healthier your soil is, the more drought resistant your plants will be. To improve soil, you can:
- Apply mulch to your garden to reduce evaporation loss, reduce plant stress and weed growth, and improve the overall appearance of your garden.
- Add a soil improver such as organic matter (compost) or use soil amendments such as clays to improve water and nutrient holding capacity.
- Use a wetting agent.
Soil types across Western Australia vary greatly. To keep your soil healthy, it’s important to understand the soil characteristics that might apply to the region in which you live. To find out more about soil improvement at your household, visit our webpage here.
For more waterwise tips, visit www.watercorporation.com.au/Waterwise.