SOUTH Australia’s continuing dry spell is taking a toll on gardens and water supply.
Only 14.2mm of rain has been recorded at the weather bureau’s West Tce rain gauge so far this year, with little forecast on the horizon and a string of 30C-plus days to come.
The average daily water consumption across Adelaide is around 460-480 megalitres so far this month, compared with 360ML for April last year. Reservoir levels across the state are hovering at 53 per cent of capacity, well below the 67 per cent at the same time last year.
The increased consumption will lead to a spike in bills for some, but SA Water is confident there remains ample supply in the absence of any imminent rain and says that the desalination plant and River Murray can be called on if needed. Gardening expert Jon Lamb said the hot weather had been “brilliant for good gardeners” but “a challenge” for those less attentive. He said for about $4 – the price of a coffee – green thumbs could buy about 1000 litres of water, which was enough to satisfy a “decent-sized garden with planted vegetables and lawn”.
[“Source-adelaidenow”]
