The bar chart illustrates the water levels in reservoirs of six Australian cities—Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, and Darwin—in October 2009 and 2010. Overall, four of these cities experienced increases in reservoir water levels to varying extents, while Darwin showed a significant decline. Notably, Brisbane’s reservoir levels remained unchanged. Although Sydney initially had the highest water levels, it was surpassed by Canberra in 2010.
Focusing on the cities with the highest water levels, Sydney experienced a slight rise, increasing from approximately 78% in 2009 to just over 80% in 2010. By contrast, Canberra saw a more substantial increase, climbing from about 77% to approximately 87% over the same period. This made Canberra the city with the highest water reservoir level in 2010.
Melbourne and Perth showed similar upward trends. Melbourne’s water levels increased from just over 20% in 2009 to about 40% in 2010, effectively doubling over the period. Perth also witnessed a notable rise, with its water levels increasing from slightly above 40% to over 70%. These changes represent significant improvements in water storage for both cities.
On the other hand, Darwin exhibited a sharp decline. Its reservoir levels dropped from about 45% in 2009 to just above 20% in 2010, marking a decrease of more than half. Brisbane, meanwhile, showed no change in its water levels, maintaining a consistent figure throughout the period.