: News Article

Good falls prime dam

16/01/2004

Water flows into Townsville and Thuringowa’s largest storage in the last week would have filled around 19-thousand Olympic sized swimming pools.

Ross River Dam is at more than 55 per cent of current capacity, or 1.57 metres below the level of the spillway, which has been cut down as part of the dam upgrade.

That’s the equivalent of 16 percent of the full capacity of the dam which will be returned with the installation of gates that are due to be fitted before the end of 2005.

NQ Water Chairman Ian Hamilton said a feature of the dam was its large catchment which was running efficiently.

“The catchment is well primed and the vast majority of the rain is ending up in the dam,” Mr Hamilton said. “The 750 square kilometre catchment accounts for a lot of runoff.”

“This is the start of the business end of the wet season and while the rain looks good we are still looking forward to more falls.

“Even at reduced capacity, a full dam will provide us with more than twelve months supply.”

Meanwhile consumption has averaged out at around 90 – 100 Mls/day this week. That’s down from a high on December 12 of more than 188Mls and a one day high of nearly 200Mls in November.

The water level at Paluma Dam is back up to more than 26 per cent full after the long dry spell which saw capacity reduced to single figures.

It will enjoy a reprieve from the demands of supplying the northern beaches while the intake draws water directly from a flowing Crystal Creek.

The Mount Spec system has been ramped up to capacity as the rain ensures a more consistent flow in Crystal Creek.

Contact: Ian Hamilton on 0418 777 284, or Media Liaison, Robert Dark on 0417 623 156.

© 2004 NQ Water