JOURNAL OF FACTS
Water usage and restrictions
The ACT has been under mandatory water restrictions since December 2002. During this time, the total annual water consumption, measured by ActewAGL, has decreased. In the 2002-03 financial year the ACT's total annual water consumption was 65,569 ML. By 2007-08 consumption had declined to 43,556 ML.
As at November 2008, stage 3 water restrictions apply within the ACT, with water consumption target of 200L per person per day.
Climate and rainfall
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) recorded 565.8mm of rainfall at Canberra Airport during 2007. This was approximately 57mm below the historical annual average of 632.2mm. The wettest months of 2007 were February, June, November and December, with more than 90mm of rainfall recorded in each of these months.
According to the BoM, 2007 was the warmest year on record in terms of average annual mean temperatures. The average minimum temperature recorded at Canberra Airport was 8.3°C, while the average maximum temperature recorded was 21.2°C.
The coldest temperature recorded in 2007 was -4.7°C (recorded on 17 July), while the hottest was 40.5°C (recorded on 12 January).
Sources
ActewAGL
Bureau of Meteorology
