(Australian Associated Press)

 

SNAPSHOT OF AUSTRALIA’S WATER STORAGE (AS OF FEBRUARY 9)

* Storage level as percentage of of full capacity: 44.8 per cent

* Change since last year: down 6.4 per cent

WATER STORAGE FOR CAPITAL CITIES AND STATEWIDE RESTRICTIONS

ADELAIDE:

* Storage level as percentage of full capacity: 48.3 per cent

* Change since last year: down 0.1 per cent

* Water restrictions: ‘Water wise measures’ replaced restrictions across South Australia in 2010.

BRISBANE:

* Storage level: 58.3 per cent

* Change since last year: down 16.2 per cent

* Water restrictions: None for Brisbane metro area but restrictions for Scenic Rim include using water for outdoor cleaning for only four hours on two days a week and a total ban on sprinklers. Despite rains at the weekend, water still needs to be trucked to Stanthorpe near the NSW border which officially ran out of drinking water in January.

CANBERRA:

* Storage level: 44.5 per cent

* Change since last year: down 18.6 per cent

* Water restrictions: Permanent water conservation measures in place since 2010.

DARWIN:

* Storage level: 54.3 per cent

* Change since last year: down 24.4 per cent

* Water restrictions: None for Darwin region, but the Katherine area has watering restrictions due to the presence of PFAS chemicals.

HOBART:

* Storage level: 57 per cent

* Change since last year: down 20 per cent

* Water restrictions: Stage 1 in greater Hobart region and Bridport, Stage 2 Coles Bay and Stage 3 Scamander.

MELBOURNE:

* Storage level: 62.2 per cent

* Change since last year: up 4 per cent.

* Water restrictions: Permanent water saving rules since 2011 across the state, but watering of lawns in Goulburn Valley is banned and other restrictions apply.

PERTH:

* Storage level: 41.1 per cent

* Change since last year: down 5.4 per cent

* Water restrictions: Permanent water efficiency measures were introduced in 2007, including a watering days roster.

SYDNEY:

* Storage level: 42 per cent

* Change since last year: down 17 per cent

* Water restrictions: Level 2 for Sydney metropolitan area and varying levels for other parts of the state ranging from none to “emergency” level 5 for Tamworth, Moonbi, Kootingal and Walgett – banning all residential outdoor use of treated town or council water.

Source: Bureau of Meteorology