Affinity Water is warning that the risk of drought and water restrictions in 2018 is increasing – the company’s groundwater resources have remained below average all year following the very dry winter in 2016/17.

Winter rain is needed  to top up dwindling water resources -despite summer rainfall, aquifers only usually fill up from rainfall during autumn and winter, when there is less plant growth and evaporation. October to March is the critical recharge period when rainfall is expected to reach the aquifers (porous rock where groundwater is stored), which is used to supply 60% of Affinity Water customers.

Now is the time of year when water sources need to start being replenished but the region Affinity Water serves only received a quarter of the long term average rainfall in October, considerably short of what is usually expected. This is having a noticeable impact on river flows in the communities the water company serves.

Above average rainfall will be needed during this recharge period before groundwater returns to average levels. With the continuation of low rainfall in November, the risk of drought and water restrictions in 2018 is increasing.

Affinity Water is continuing to ask its customer to use water wisely through its Keep Track of the Tap campaign, which has been running throughout the summer.

Mike Pocock, Director of Asset Strategy at Affinity Water said:

“Like all water companies, we depend on winter rainfall to supply our customers. With our water resources at below average levels, we are continuing to ask our customers to help by saving water, which can make a real difference.

“We are constantly managing the water we have, whether it’s investing in new resources, installing new pipelines to move water around our network and finding and fixing leaks as quickly as possible.

“However, the weather remains one thing we cannot control, which is why we keep our water efficiency activities and messaging going year-round to remind people that water is a precious resource - whatever the weather.”