SYDNEY, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Sydney's water reserves have plummeted over the past two years from 96 percent capacity to just 55 percent, and with levels continuing to fall, the harbor city now faces the introduction of restrictions.
"We're experiencing some of the driest conditions on record and while we had some good rain in some areas during March, overall our dam levels continue to drop," Minister for Water Melinda Pavey said in a statement on Sunday.
According to Sydney Water, dam levels are falling at an average rate of 0.4 percent every week.
If the water in Sydney's 11 dams goes below 50 percent, stage one water restrictions will be initiated, banning the hosing of hard surfaces such as paths and driveways and limiting the watering of gardens to outside the hours from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
When dam levels fell below 60 percent earlier in the year, Sydney's desalination plant was activated to help keep up with supply.
However, having been idle for most of its nine-year lifespan, the plant requires up to eight months of preparations before it is functional at which point it will contribute roughly 15 percent of the city's drinking water.
Despite a widely publicized drought in much of the country's rural areas, a recent study showed that most Sydneysiders are unaware of the situation.
Around 47 percent of respondents did not believe the city was in drought while around 15 percent said they were unsure.
Residents in Sydney are being encouraged to save water and remember that every bit helps, from installing water-saving shower heads to purchasing low water use appliances.
