1345.4 - SA Stats, Aug 2009  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 25/08/2009   
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WATER


RAINFALL

South Australian rainfall totals were generally slightly below average across much of South Australia this autumn, typically 60 to 80% of average, apart from the Mount Lofty Ranges and adjacent areas, the far western agricultural areas, and the south-western pastoral areas, which saw rainfall above average. Areas of above average totals in the west were quite patchy due to the rainfall coming from the combination of several events that were not widespread, but were up to twice the average in some locations.

Rainfall Anomalies.
Diagram: A map of rainfall anomalies for South Australia.


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


RESERVOIR LEVELS

According to the Bureau of Meteorology July 2009 was South Australia's wettest July since 1996, with rainfall across catchment areas being well above average. As a result the total water storage in Adelaide's reservoirs increased substantially to be 73% of capacity by the end of the month. This compared to 59% at the end of June 2009 and 51% at the end of July 2008. Reservoir levels for the first seven months of 2009 have been higher than for the corresponding periods in 2008.

TOTAL RESERVOIR STORAGE, As a percentage of capacity, Adelaide
Graph: TOTAL RESERVOIR STORAGE, As a percentage of capacity, Adelaide


Source: SA Water daily reservoir levels