SA Water will pump more from the River Murray to cope with high water demand

ADELAIDE water use in December has leapt compared to the start of summer over the past three years, prompting SA Water to pump more River Murray water to cope with demand.

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ADELAIDE water use in December has leapt by 23 per cent compared to the start of summer over the past three years, prompting SA Water to pump more River Murray water to cope with demand.

Latest SA Water figures show Adelaide’s consumption in December was 19,046 ML, compared to usage of around 15.5ML in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

So far this month, usage is up by almost 24 per cent.

Figures up until January 15 show Adelaide has used 9306ML, compared to 7509ML for the same period last year. In comparison, Adelaide’s water consumption for December 2002, at the peak of the drought, was 25,299ML.

SA Water chief executive John Ringham said there had been lower-than-average inflows into reservoirs, which sit at 51 per cent capacity, down 19 per cent on the same time last year, but it was still within the organisation’s “normal operating regime”.

“To meet our customers’ consumption requirements, we will be pumping more water from the River Murray than we did last year, when inflows were higher,” he said.

“We only pump enough water from the River Murray as we think we will need to support our customers.

“Adelaide’s water supply is supported by a diverse range of water sources, including 10 reservoirs in the Mt Lofty Ranges, the River Murray and the Adelaide Desalination Plant.”

He said the desalination plant was operating at minimum production but SA Water reviewed its available resources on a regular basis and would increase production if necessary.

SA Water has not yet issued any fines for water-restriction breaches this summer, but has sent out five reminders.

The city’s increasing thirst comes amid above-average summer temperatures and follows a dry spring, when only 71mm of rain fell in September, October and November, compared to the average of 128.5mm. Adelaide has an average of 16 summer days of 35C or more.

So far, there have been 19 days above that temperature, including yesterday when the city hit 35.6C at 2.17pm.

Adelaide also had its hottest December on record, with seven days above 40C.

Bureau of Meteorology senior climatologist Darren Ray said the El Niño event was having an impact and rainfall was “highly variable”. He said it would likely be back to neutral by April or May.

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