Adelaide reservoirs swell with 18 billion litres of rain in a single day

A storm that hit the Adelaide Hills brought lightning, heavy rain and hail, causing streams in Morialta Conservation Park to surge dramatically. In the 24-hour period ending at 8 a.m., SA Water recorded roughly 18 billion litres of water entering its metropolitan reservoirs, the highest daily total since September 2016. This surge lifted the combined storage level to 73 percent of capacity, with Mount Bold receiving more than 5 billion litres and moving up to 82 percent, while Kangaroo Creek rose by 19 percent.

Little Para and South Para reservoirs increased by 7 percent and 10 percent respectively. Since winter began, over 71 billion litres have flowed into the system, surpassing last year’s levels. SA Water will continue to work with the Bureau of Meteorology to track rainfall and decide if releases from Mount Bold are needed, aiming to maintain a secure supply into the drier late-winter and spring period. Visitors to the affected park are warned to stay on marked trails and behind safety barriers.