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October 18, 2006
This article in The Age makes for sobering reading. It says that global warming means rainfall levels in Victoria may never return to "normal" when the drought ends. So the state's main rivers may never get back to pre-drought levels. .
New figures show that flows in many key rivers have already fallen to below those recently forecast by the CSIRO for 2055, assuming global warming. Flows in the Yarra have fallen by 29 per cent over the past 10 years, whereas the CSIRO had previously forecast they would drop by 23 per cent by 2055.In the same period, the Maribyrnong's flow has fallen by 41 per cent. The forecast was a 32 per cent drop by 2055.Geelong's main water source, the Barwon, has fallen by 34 per cent. Its forecast was a 28 per cent drop. Likewise Ballarat's main source, the Moorabool, has fallen 60 per cent. Its forecast fall by 2055 was 32 per cent.
Bendigo is biting the bullet. It is building a water recycling plant.The recycled water will be piped to nearby farms, parks and the Campaspe River, rather than being added directly to drinking supplies.
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