Rain keeps Hunter Water storages at 70% as residents urged to keep saving
Hunter Water is encouraging customers to keep making Smart Water Choices, even as recent rain has helped lift storage levels to just over 70 per cent across the Lower Hunter.
Rainfall in recent weeks produced runoff in all the right places for water supply, with heavy falls over the catchments for Chichester and Williams Rivers, Grahamstown Dam and Tomago Sandbeds providing an excellent top-up for our water storages. With river flows continuing from the rainfall, Hunter Water is still pumping water into Grahamstown Dam, leading to further increases in storage levels.
Hunter Water Acting Executive Manager Strategy & Engagement, David Derkenne, said any rainfall is welcome but reinforced the need for long-term planning.
“It’s great to see our storage levels sitting at a touch over 70 per cent, which means we’re less likely to move into water restrictions in the near term. While a welcome reprieve, storage levels remain below average for this time of year, and water restrictions are still possible in the coming spring and summer.
“The east coast low in late May, followed by intermittent rain over the last few weeks has delivered exactly what we needed, with strong inflows into key catchments and ongoing river flows allowing us to keep topping up our dams.
“However, it also highlights just how reliant we are on rainfall to fill our storages. Without continued inflows, storage levels can drop quickly,” Mr Derkenne said.
Mr Derkenne said Hunter Water is continuing to invest in rainfall-independent water sources to support the region’s future.
"That’s why projects like the Belmont Desalination Plant are so important. It will provide a reliable, rainfall-independent supply to help secure water for our growing community, even during prolonged dry periods.
“We also continue to invest in reducing leakage across our network through increased leak detection which will reduce areas of high-water pressure,” he said.
Despite improved storage levels, Hunter Water is urging customers not to become complacent, particularly with the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting winter to be overall warmer and drier than average.
“We’ve seen how quickly water use can increase, even in cooler months when historically there’s less water usage.
“Simple actions at home, like having a 4-minute shower, using water-efficient appliances, and being mindful in the garden can make a real difference.
“Saving water isn’t just something we do during drought. It’s something we can all practise every day, in any weather. By doing so, we help keep our dams fuller for longer and ensure there’s more water available when we need it in the future,” Mr Derkenne said.
