With rainfall expected over the coming week and an interest in how this rainfall will impact on water storage levels, Goulburn-Murray Water reminds customers and the community to visit its Managing Water Storages web page showing current and forecast releases from storages and links to weather and flood information.
G-MW's Managing Water Storages webpage is available at www.g-mwater.com.au/managing-water-storages, and details information on water releases that are not for irrigation delivery purposes taking place from storages. The information is updated daily during a non-operational storage release. The forecast releases are an indication only and are to be used as a guide only and may change rapidly depending on weather conditions.
G-MW Acting Manager Water Resources Dr Mark Bailey said G-MW has managed water storages through times of drought and flood, and has a great deal of knowledge about the behaviour of storages and systems through these varied conditions.
"Right now, we are again looking at the operations needed to deal with very high storage volumes and the concerns that the community have for flooding," Dr Bailey said.
"Our operating procedures aim to provide a degree of flood mitigation wherever possible. The existence of the storage itself provides a large buffer to flows and delays the timing of the natural flood peak," said Dr Bailey.
"Our staff work closely with the State Emergency Service who are responsible for emergency assistance and the Bureau of Meteorology, who issue flood warnings for communities."
In preparing for predicted rainfall, G-MW advises the potential for higher releases of water downstream of G-MW water storages can occur.
"With the irrigation season set to commence in just over a month and drier weather forecasted in coming months, storage levels may fall soon as customers take advantage of the best water availability they have had for several seasons."
G-MW monitors its water storages 24 hours a day 7 days a week and monitors Bureau of Meteorology rainfall forecasts closely for impacts on storage volume and irrigation delivery.
For updates on water storage levels that can be emailed to you daily, weekly or monthly subscribe to the free e-dams service at http://www.g-mwater.com.au/
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Media Contact: Alice Milner
Unit: Stakeholder Relations
Telephone: 03 5833 5706