Mundaring Weir level steady, despite heavy January rain

DESPITE heavy rainfall across the eastern suburbs this week, levels at Mundaring Weir are still low according to the Water Corporation.

Mundaring received above average rainfall this week , recording 62mm, making it the sixth wettest January on record.

Water corporation spokeswoman Clare Lugar said the rainfall was welcome, but had made little difference to dam levels.

“Declining rainfall over the past decade has meant the soils in our catchment areas are a lot drier than they used to be and act like sponges, soaking up the rainfall,” she said.

“Given this, the capacity of Mundaring Weir has remained steady, with the weir at 33.8 per cent capacity.

“While rainfall has made little difference to dams, we encourage the community to switch off their sprinklers when it rains and give the garden a free drink from the sky.”

Bullsbrook recorded over 80mm of rain, while Gingin recorded 67mm.

Ms Lugar said in the past two years desalination was the largest source of water supply due to the drying climate.

“In 2015-16 water from Perth’s damns only accounted for 7 per cent of total water supply, which shows the effect of the drying climate,” she said.