Darwin River Dam at lowest level in 14 years: Expert calls for water restrictions to be considered

DARWIN River Dam, which supplies up to 95 per cent of Darwin’s drinking water, has dropped to its lowest level in 14 years. Now implementing water restrictions should be considered, a leading expert says

The Darwin River Dam has dropped to its lowest level in 14 years

THE Territory should consider implementing water restrictions, a leading Australian water expert has said.

The call comes as the Darwin River Dam, which supplies up to 95 per cent of Darwin’s drinking water, has dropped to its lowest level in 14 years.

The dam was full as recently as early 2018 but after two drier than average wet seasons in a row its water level has dropped to just 54 per cent – buoyed an extra two per cent from last week’s wet season downpour, which dropped 238mm at Darwin Airport.

The Darwin River Dam overflowing in 2018 ... the dam has now dropped to its lowest level in 14 years

Researcher Dr Ian Wright teaches water science and management at Western Sydney University and has been researching rainfall and water supply in all of Australia’s capital cities.

He said while Darwin had good water capacity for an Australian capital city – even with its primary dam at only 54 per cent – water conservation policies such as water restrictions, more water tanks and variable water pricing were well worth exploring.

“I would be encouraging that development of community consciousness about the importance of water conservation, and I think that could be a silver lining to the cloud of what a rough year it was last year,” he said.

“Looking at the rainfall statistics, it was legitimately very low.”

A Power and Water spokeswoman said Darwin’s water supply system had been designed to be “very robust” to withstand multiple poor wet seasons.

She said while Darwin had never had water restrictions before, under corporation policy those would come into play if the Darwin River Dam level reached 31 per cent or below.

“All water supply providers across the country have a system of water restrictions, to help reduce demand until the rains return, and Darwin is no different,” she said.

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“Water restrictions have never previously been triggered in Darwin – water levels in Darwin River Dam have not previously fallen to the trigger level.”

”Even at the level the dam is at presently, it would take a couple more poor wet seasons before water restrictions were triggered.”

Originally published as Darwin River Dam at lowest level in 14 years: Expert calls for water restrictions to be considered