Recent Rain Not Enough

November 1, 2005

Recent rain not enough

The region’s recent rain has given false hope the water debate is about to end.

Toowoomba’s three dams – Lake Cressbrook, Cooby and Perseverance – have received a combined total of 2227ML of water in the past fortnight, however, Water and Sewerage portfolio chair Councillor Joe Ramia said it had little impact on dam levels.

“It is going to take a lot more than a month’s worth of rain to solve Toowoomba’s water predicament. Certainly, the rain we have seen lately is welcome.

“Perseverance Dam might have recorded its wettest October since records began in 1971, but this has been the exception to the rule.”

Cr Ramia said while a total of 2227ML had run into the three dams from 13 to 29 October, it wasn’t a considerable rise for the dams.  “By the time you take out evaporation and usage, October’s supply resulted in a net increase of 869ML. In comparison, the dams dropped 1089ML in September. So you can see that we still have a problem.”

Cr Ramia said the recent rain was certainly a welcome sight, however “it was not anywhere near enough to significantly raise water supply dam levels. Consequently, we are still on Level 4 restrictions.”