Rain fails to raise dam level

Heavy rain a couple of weeks ago had little impact on the water levels at the Harvey, Logue Brooke and Waroona dams.

Despite the rain, all four of the dams are slightly down compared to the same time last year.

Harvey Dam is at about 50 per cent of its capacity and Waroona and Logue Brook dams are about 30 per cent, according to Harvey Water general manager Geoff Calder.

Farmers in the Harvey Irrigation District can expect a 65 to 70 per cent allocation of their total entitlement this summer which is similar to last year's figures, depending on average winter rainfall.

Mr Calder said the last time irrigators could access 100 per cent of their total entitlement was in 1999 and the tightest years were from 2009 to 2011 when low dam levels restricted the allocation to 34, 45 and 40 per cent respectively.

The allocation for the 2015/16 water year will be decided on October 1 and Mr Calder encourages irrigators to use the Harvey Water Online Trading (HWOT) initiative.

"HWOT went live last year and allows irrigators to sell or buy transferable water entitlement parcels on our website," Mr Calder said.

"It is a very simple and easy process where irrigators register and have instant access to comparisons and trade history to match volume and price to their needs."

Mr Calder said the expansion of the Myalup and Collie irrigation districts relied on improving water quality from the Wellington Dam which had a salinity of around 1100 mg/l compared to 200mg/l from the Harvey Dam.

The State Government is investing $5.7 million in the Myalup-Wellington project and the Myalup-Wellington Steering Group is examining ways to improve the water supply and quality.

"The committee, which includes Harvey Water, is working hard to improve the supply of water delivered to Brunswick and Myalup," Mr Calder said.

"It is not an easy or cheap exercise but will increase the productivity of producers in these areas significantly."

Irrigators in all Harvey Water districts remain unhappy over the Dam Safety Charge imposed by the Water Corporation.