Patchy rain as pumping starts

IT was hit and miss for rain in Townsville yesterday with areas to the south of the city receiving the best totals.

Stuart and Gordon creeks both recorded 7mm, Cluden had 5mm and Alligator Creek and Kirwan both received 4mm.

The Ross Dam dropped to 15 per cent capacity on Friday and Townsville City Council began pumping water from the Burdekin Dam on Monday.

General manager of Townsville Water and Waste Scott Moorhead said up to a third of the 130ML pumped daily would be lost through evaporation, meaning the Ross Dam level would keep falling.