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Melbourne's water
storages are currently at:
34.7%
breakdown by reservoir
(you can click on each reservoir
for more information)
Thomson: 21.4%
Cardinia: 34.9%
Upper Yarra: 66.6%
Sugarloaf: 61.9%
Silvan: 89.8%
Tarago: 58.3%
Yan Yean: 29.8%
Greenvale: 70.9%
Maroondah: 84.6%
O'Shannassy: 86.9%
our drainage system
Where does all the stormwater go?
Street gutter, leading into a stormwater drain
Stormwater is rainfall which runs off roofs and roads and other surfaces and flows into gutters, streams and rivers and creeks where it eventually flows into the bays.
The drainage or stormwater system carries rainwater from roofs, roads and buildings through gutters and drains, and into rivers and creeks where it eventually flows to the bays.
The drainage system is designed to take rainwater into the closest river or creek. Unlike sewage it isn't treated before it enters our rivers and creeks. In most cases it flows directly into our creeks, rivers and bays.
Stormwater can carry with it all sorts of nasties. Some are obvious such as plastic bags or detergents from people washing their cars, others are not so obvious such as nutrients and heavy metals.
Why do we need drains?
Drains carries water from our streets to local rivers and creeks and eventually to the bay or ocean. We need drains to prevent floods.
Nowadays, drainage systems in new housing estates are designed to improve the quality of stormwater, as it carries it away from our streets. These new designs helps minimizes stormwater pollution.
How does the stormwater system work?
