In the past week, there have been reports that the largest reservoir in South Africa has dropped to an historic low. Because no significant rainfall is expected in the next couple of months the outlook for this supply is not good. Water is in short supply for the one million people in the Nelson Mandela Bay metro area. During this month of March the average high temperature is 27°C.
While we are still in spring time here in Ireland, rainfall has not been significant. The rainfall data published by Met Eireann (Table below) this week shows that rainfall in March is below average. We should therefore be thinking about how we can conserve water now and not wait until we need to do so in July. An ongoing discussion of water conservation is really needed starting right now.
#LoveWater
Monthly Values for Dublin Airport up to 13th April 2021
Total rainfaill in mm for Dublin Airport
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 115.1 | 55.0 | 32.2 | 4.6 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 206.9 |
| 2020 | 36.0 | 130.4 | 31.8 | 12.8 | 9.3 | 69.6 | 98.9 | 87.3 | 60.9 | 80.6 | 48.1 | 83.1 | 748.8 |
| 2019 | 26.8 | 30.5 | 92.5 | 74.6 | 33.4 | 82.9 | 41.0 | 91.9 | 104.6 | 77.2 | 173.0 | 57.7 | 886.1 |
| 2018 | 93.1 | 36.9 | 100.0 | 68.9 | 19.1 | 4.8 | 40.0 | 48.0 | 43.8 | 42.6 | 131.2 | 81.0 | 709.4 |
| mean | 62.6 | 48.8 | 52.6 | 54.1 | 59.5 | 66.7 | 56.2 | 73.3 | 59.5 | 79.0 | 72.9 | 72.7 | 757.9 |
